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Repro > Sperm Morphology, Evaluation, and Transport in the Male Tract > Flashcards

Sperm Morphology, Evaluation, and Transport in the Male Tract Flashcards

1
Q

give the three general parts of a mature sperm cell

A
  1. head
  2. midpiece
  3. tail/principle piece
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2
Q

what does a mature sperm head contain? (2)

A

nucleus and acrosome

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3
Q

what does a mature sperm midpiece contain? (2)

A

mitochondria and annulus

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4
Q

what is the annulus of a mature sperm midpiece?

A

the termal end of the midpiece

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5
Q

what is a mature sperm tail also called?

A

principle piece

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6
Q

are sperm thick?

A

no, they are wider than they are thick

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7
Q

how does the tail move sperm

A

swings like a propeller

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8
Q

what causes sperm to “flash” on a microscope?

A

as sperm move and the flat side faces up, they flash when the thin part is facing up

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9
Q

what is the neck of a mature sperm cell?

A

where the midpiece ties into the head

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10
Q

describe the structure of a mature sperm midpiece

A

coils of mitochondria around it

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11
Q

describe the structure of a mature sperm principle piece

A

fibers run through to generate energy for movement

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12
Q

what is the equitorial segment of a mature sperm cell?

A

where sperm fuse with the oocyte during fertilization

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13
Q

does the size of sperm have to do with the size of the animal?

A

no

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14
Q

do sperm have a lot of organelles? what does this mean?

A

very few organelles, can’t produce protein, so they must be packaged with what they need or get it elsewhere (like in the female tract)

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15
Q

why don’t sperm have many organelles?

A

they have a very specific job, no need

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16
Q

describe the nuclear membrane of a sperm head

A

surrounds nucleus

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17
Q

describe the inner acrosomal membrane of a sperm head

A

between acrosome and nuclear membrane

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18
Q

describe the outer acrosomal membrane of a sperm head

A

surrounds outside of acrosome

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19
Q

describe the plasma membrane of a sperm head

A

surrounds entire cell

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20
Q

list the sperm membranes from inside to outside

A
  1. nuclear membrane
  2. inner acrosomal membrane
  3. outer acrosomal membrane
  4. plasma membrane
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21
Q

what 2 enzymes are found in the acrosome of sperm?

A

hyaluronidase and acrosin

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22
Q

what is the function of hyaluronidase?

A

dissolve hyaluronic acid between cumulus cells

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23
Q

what is the function of acrosin?

A

dissolves a hole through zona pellucida, allowing rest of sperm cell through and to bind

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24
Q

describe the role of the acrosome in binding to the oocyte

A

the acrosome dissolves a hole for sperm to enter and bind to the oocyte, however, once the acrosome is gone, it is irreversible, so if a sperm cell uses its acrosome to dissolve a hole, that sperm cell won’t be able to bind to the oocyte, it will have to be the sperm coming behind that guy

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25
lis the 5 parts of a sperm midpiece
1. capitulum 2. laminated columns 3. mitochondrial helix 4. axoneme 5. annulus
26
describe the capitulum of a sperm midpiece
top of the midpiece
27
describe the laminated columns of a sperm midpiece
contribute to flexibility/motility
28
describe the mitochondrial helix of a sperm midpiece
provides energy for motility
29
describe the axoneme of a sperm midpiece
microtubules that run the length of the tail, terminate befre the terminal piece
30
describe the annulus of a sperm midpiece
end of the midpiece
31
list the 6 aspects of initial semen evaluation
1. color 2. volume 3. concentration 4. motility 5. viability 6. morphology
32
what is used as a marker for viability?
motility
33
what is the goal of initial semen evaluation?
to assess quality
34
what does a white to cream color indicate about semen?
it is good, light grey is also okay
35
what does a yellow color indicate about semen?
urine is present, suggest an anatomical problem and is bad for sperm du to wrong pH and osmolarity
36
what does clear color or thin apearance indicate about semen?
few sperm present
37
what does a pink color indicate about semen?
blood in sample
38
what is the average volume of a goat or ram sample of semen?
about 1 mL
39
what is the average volume of a bull semen sample?
about 7mL
40
what is the average volume of a stallion semen sample?
about 50-100mL
41
what is the average volume of a boar semen sample?
250-300mL
42
define concentration as a component of initial semen evaluation
how many sperm/mL
43
what is the gold standard for measuring semen concentration?
hemocytometer
44
give 3 other, less reliable methods of measuring semen concentration
spectophotometer, photometer, fluorometer
45
give 3 animals that usually have a higher semen concentration
goats, rams, bulls
46
what does motility evaluation also evaluate for?
viability
47
give the 2 methods of motility evaluation
1. visual estimation | 2. CASA- computer aided sperm analysis
48
to what percent does a visual estimation of motility round to?
nearest 5%
49
list and describe the 2 aspects of visual estimation as a motility evaluation
1. total motility: all the moving sperm | 2. progressive motility: those sperm moving in a straight line
50
describe CASA as a motility evaluation
tracks individual sperm and computes a variety of statistics on the sample
51
what is the key to usefulness of data obtained for motility evaluation?
sample preparation
52
list and describe the 2 schemes commonly used for morphology classifications
1. Scheme A: - primary: head abnormalities - secondary: tail abnormalities, includes cytoplasmic droplets 2. Scheme B: - primary: head abnormalities - secondary: tail abnormlities - tertiary: cytoplasmic droplets
53
what does a proximal cytoplasmic droplet indicate?
maturation issues
54
list the order of the transport of sperm (7)
1. seminiferous tubules 2. rete tubules 3. vas efferentia 4. caput epididymis 5. corpus epididymis 6. cauda epididymis 7. vas deferens
55
list the 2 mechanisms of sperm transport in the seminiferous tubules
1. bulk fluid flow | 2. contractions of myoid cells
56
list the 2 mechanisms of sperm transport in the rete tubules
1. fluid flow | 2. rete tubule secretion
57
list the 2 mechanisms of sperm transport in the vas efferentia
1. fluid flow | 2. cilia
58
list the mechanism of sperm transport in the caput epididymis
smooth muscle contractions, driven by PGF2a
59
list the mechanism of sperm transport in the corpus epididymis
muscle contractions driven by PGF2a
60
list the mechanism of sperm transport in the cauda epidydmis
muscle contractions driven by PGF2a
61
list the mechanism of sperm transport in the vas deferens
muscle contraction driven by OXYTOCIN
62
what absolutely requires androgens?
epididymal function
63
list and describe the 4 aspects of sperm maturation in the epididymis
1. change in fertility: sperm not fertile when produced, fertile at cauda 2. develop motility: done by cauda 3. nuclear condensation: DNA condenses down in sperm head 4. cytoplasmic droplet: translocates down the tail, stays at the annulus, should fall off during ejaculation
64
describe the concentration function of the epididymis
remove water so the cauda can store more sperm
65
describe the 3 secretion aspects of the epididymis
1. convert testosterone into DHT via 5a reductase 2. secrete energy substrates: free fatty acids, carnitine 3. glycoproteins, lipids, enzymes, including decapicitation factor
66
what is decapicitation factor?
stabilizes plasma membrane of sperm
67
describe the transport function of the epididymis
peristaltic smooth muscle contractions driven by PGF2a
68
describe the storage function of the epididymis
sperm can stay in cauda for up to 60 days
69
which animals ejaculate in a single fraction? (3)
bull, ram, human
70
which animals have fractionated ejaculation? (2)
boar and stallion
71
list the 5 main components of semen
1. water 2. sperm 3. substrates 4. inorganic salts 5. proteins
72
where is the water in semen located?
in the seminal plasma
73
what 4 purposes to semen substrates serve? just need to know the purposes, not the specific substrates
1. energy, from fructose and sorbitol 2. osmotic balance, from inositol 3. motility, from GPC 4. pH balance, maybe from citric acid
74
list 5 inorganic salts in semen
1. sodium 2. potassium 3. calcium 4. magnesium 5. chloride
75
describe the role of proteins and lipids like cholesterol in semen
contribute to decapicitation factor
76
which animal has the largest average ejaculate volume?
the boar
77
which animal has the highest concentration of semen?
the ram
78
which animal has the highest number of sperm per ejaculate?
the boar

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