Lecture 5: Fertilisation and Implantation Flashcards
Describe the transition of the oocyte back into meiosis following its arrest:
- Oocyte was arrested in meiosis 1 in the primary follicle.
- Following the LH surge, meiosis is resumed, with the first reduction division, resulting in formation of a polar body, but, stops again at metaphase of meiosis 2.
- At ovulation, the egg consists of the oocyte and a small polar body surrounded by the zone pellucida.
- Meiosis is resumed, for the second time, upon fetilisation.
Are meiotic divisions equal?
Meiotic divisions in the oocyte are unequal
First meiotic division (reduction division) in response to LH surge. (n)
Primordial follicle (Arrested in prophase of meiosis 1) (2n)
n = first polar body, Polar bodies are retained within the zona pellucida
Describe what happens in ejaculation:
- Sperm leaves the male reproductive tract during ejaculation bathed in seminal plasma
- As the prostatic and seminal vesicle fluids mix (in the vagina) a coagulum is formed that holds the ejaculate together and adheres the ejaculate to the female reproductive tract.
Insert diagram of the uterine ligaments
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Describe the deposit of sperm in the female reproductive tract:
- Vaginal insemination
- Within 15 minutes of ejaculation the coagulum is dispersed allowing individual sperm to begin their quest for an egg
- The breakdown of the coagulum is called liquefaction.
How does vagina pH impact sperm?
- pH of the vagina is low (3.5-7.4) and this pH is inhibitory to sperm motility and survival
- Seminal plasma buffers the vaginal pH to around 7.2 at this pH sperm can become motile.
Describe sperm transport in the female reproductive tract:
- Fertilisation occurs in the oviduct (fallopian tube) and therefore sperm must migrate (deposit->along tube)
- First barrier is cervix. Cervix secretes mucous which is under hormonal control throughout menstrual cycle.
- Cervical mucous is hostile to sperm transport apart from short window during ovulation.
- During periovulation window cervical mucus is produced in large amounts and it is thin. Fertile mucus aligns its fibres and allows passage of sperm in columns through the cervix.
How does cervical mucus filter sperm:
- The tails of normal sperm cause the fibers of the cervical mucus to vibrate in rhythm
- Failure of abnormal sperm to induce this vibration in the cervical mucus may retard the progress of abnormal sperm.
How much of the sperm enters the uterus and where are they stored?
- up to 200m sperm may be contained in human ejaculate of these only 1m will enter uterus
- Not all sperm traverse the cervix immediately and some sperm are stored in the crypts of the cervix from which they may later move into the uterus.
- After traversing the cervix sperm move to the utero-tubal junction in about 30 mins.
How long do sperm survive?
~48hrs
Clinical advice is ~5 days. 99% of spermatozoa do not enter cervix
What influences the sperm transport speed:
~2-7hrs to reach the ampulla of the fallopian tube
Swimming speed ~3mm/min
Speed is related to fertility
Speed decreases with time
Speed decreases with freezing and thawing
Stimulation of the cervix by the penis causes release of oxytocin from the pituitary, resulting in rhythmic uterine contractions aiding sperm movement.
Describe how sperm produce an innate immune response:
- Sperm arriving in the uterus induce an infiltration of leukocytes (leukocytosis)
- These phagocytose dead or dying sperm
- Exposure of the maternal immune response to paternal antigens. (unprotected sex with partner for year are less at risk of developing preeclampsia)
- Half of sperm arrive at wrong utero-tubal junction.
Describe movement of sperm in the fallopian tube:
- Sperm then enter the fallopian tube and their movement is slow.
- Only a few hundred will reach the distal end of the fallopian tube.
- If sperm enter the fallopian tube prior to ovulation their rate of tail beating slows and they wait in the narrow isthmus of the tube.
- At ovulation sperm move up to the egg and stored sperm may also be released from the crypts of cervix.
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What is capacitation:
- Freshly ejaculated sperm are not capable of fertilising an ovum. Capacitation occurs in the female reproductive tract
- Capacitated sperm show hyperactivation in which the tail movement changes with an increased bending of the tail and swinging of the head.
- Hyperactivation may facilitate movement of sperm through the tortuous folds of the fallopian tube.
- The length of time for capacitation of human sperm is variable but only capacitated sperm can undergo the acrosome reaction.