reproduction - March 5th & 7th Flashcards
What are the four phases of Gametogenesis?
- Extraembryonic primordial germ cells (PGCs) and their migration to the gonads
- Increase in # of PGCs by mitosis
- Decrease in chromosomal material by meiosis
- Structural and function maturation of gametes (oogenesis and spermatogenesis)
What are Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs)?
- Earliest recognizable precursors of gametes
- originate outside of the gonads in the hindgut
- migrate into gonads during early embryonic development
What is the function of spermatogenesis?
spermatozoa produced from male PGCs by meiosis and mitosis
Where does spermatogenesis occur?
in the testes
how many gametes are produced per cycle of spermatogenesis?
4
What are the intitial cells of spermatogenesis called?
spermatogonia
What are the cells called after mitosis of spermatogonia in spermatogenesis?
primary spermatocytes
Are spermatogonia haploid or diploid?
diploid
Spermatogonia give rise to two daughter cells, what happens to them?
- one daughter cell remains at the basement membrane as a stem cell
- second daughter cell (primary spermatocyte) moves toward the tubule lumen for further division
Describe the steps of spermatogenesis
- 1st meiosis: DNA duplicates and daughter cell (primary spermatocyte) splits into 2 new, haploid daughter cells (secondary spermatocytes)
- 2nd meiosis: sister chromatids in secondary spermatocytes are split into 4 daughter cells (spermatids)
Primary spermatocyte undergoes 2 meiotic divisions to form 4 haploid spermatids
What is Spermatocytogenesis?
- from spermatogonium to primary and then secondary spermatocyte
- Phase 1: spermatogonial phase (type A dark (Ad) spermatogonia are stem cells of the seminiferous epithelium ; Type A pale (Ap) spermatogonia are committed to differentiation ; Type B spermatogonia are differentiated from Type A)
- Phase 2: Each primary diploid spermatocyte duplicates its DNA and divides into two haploid, secondary spermatocytes by meiosis 1
What is Spermatidogenesis?
From secondary (haploid) spermatocyte to spermatid (haploid)
brevity of this stage meawns that secondary spermatocytes are rarely seen in histological studies
What is Spermiogenesis?
from spermatid to mature, immotile spermatozoon
- spermatids form tail by growing microtubules (axoneme) on one of the centrioles (basal body)
- Anterior part of tail (midpiece) thickens due to mitochondrial arrangement (energy supply)
- DNA undergoes condensation
- Tightly-packed chromatin transcriptionally inactive
- Golgi apparatus surrounds condensed nucleus forming the acrosome
- Testosterone removes remaining extra cytoplasm and organelles (residual bodies phagocytosed by Sertoli cells)
What is Spermiation?
from mature, immotile spermatozoon to mature, motile spermatozoon
- release of mature spermatozoa from Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule
- mature immotile spermatozoa transported to the epidiymis in testicular fluid secreted by Sertoli cells with the aid of peristaltic contractions
What do the Sertoli Cells do?
- maintain environment and protect spermatids from immune system (blood-testis barrier & FAS-ligand that triggers apoptosis of T-cells thus preventing immune attack on developing sperm
- phagocytose residual cytoplasm
- secrete: supporting testicular fluid, sibstances that initiate meiosis, ABP (concentrates testosterone close to developing gametes), hormones affecting pituitary gland in control of spermatogenesis
Describe the steps of sperm transport in the male reproductive tract
- non-motile infertile spermatozoa passively transported via testicular fluid from seminiferous tubules to caput of epididymis
- 4-12 days in epididymal duct where biochemical maturation takes place
- upon ejaculation, spermatozoa pass through ductus deferns and mix with secretions from the seminal vesicles
Describe the steps of sperm transport in the female reproductive tract
- sperm deposited in upper vagina (rapid elevation of pH)
- passage through cervix
- passage through uterus
- entry into uterine tubes
- passage up uterine tube by flagellar movement and contractions of tube
composition and buffering capability of seminal fluid protect spermatozoa from acidity of upper vagina. Buffering only lasts a few minutes which is enough for sperm to approach the cervix at the optimal pH for sperm motility
Massive numbers of spermatozoa get trapped in ________ in the female reproductive tract
mucosal folds of cervical crypts
slow release of spermatozoa through cervial mucus ensures what?
continued availability of spermatozoa to enter oviduct for fertilization
The ovum secretes ____ that helps sperm transport
chemoattractant
The oviduct has a unique function of conveying spermatozoa and eggs in the ____ directions almost _______
opposite ; simultaneously
The frequency and amplitude of oviductal contractions are regulated by:
- ovarian hormones
- components of seminal plasma
- prostaglandins
Sperm have a ____ lifespan after ejaculation
limited
While migrating in the genital tract, sperm are rapidly seperated from ____ and resuspended in _____
seminal plasma ; female gential fluid
most sperm are eliminated at ____ and ______
cervix ; uterotubal junction
What is capacitation?
- process of physiological changes occurring in mammalian spermatozoa during passage through female reproductive tract that enables them to penetrate ovum membrane
- alteration of glycoprotein surface of spermatozoa under influence of female tissue secretions within the reproductive tract
The ____ of the oocyte facilitates sperm binding and serves as a protective membrane
zona pellucida
the ____ of an oocyte delivers protein (support)
corona radiata
fertilization usually occurs in the ____ area of the uterine tube
ampullary
____ emanating from the acrosome of sperm head may play a role in penetration
hyaluronidase
The zona pellucida allows only sperm of the same ____ to enter the ovum
species