W6 Spermatozoa in the female Tract

Question 1

Viable sperm in the repro tract must:

Answer 1

Transverse the cervix

Be transported through the uterus to the oviduct

Undergo Capacitation

Bind to oocyte

Undergo acrosome reaction

Penetrate the zona pellucida and fuse with oocyte plasma membrane

Question 2

Spermatozoa are lost from female tract by

Answer 2

Phagocytosis by neutrophils
(see sperm as foriegn bodie and kill them)

Retrograde transport

Question 3

Sperm transport

Answer 3

Rapid and Sustained phases

Question 4

Rapid phase

Answer 4

Few sperm reach oviduct within a few mins of copulation

Non viable

Question 5

Sustained phase

Answer 5

Sperm transported from the reservoirs, enter isthmus, dock to the epithelium of lower isthmus = sperm survival

Question 6

Privileged pathways

Answer 6

less viscous musuc allowing sperm to move

Question 7

Capacitation

Answer 7

Changes which must occur to sperm withing the female repro tract that make them viable

Question 8

Zona Binding

Answer 8

Sperm contain zona binding protiens on their plasma membrane overlying the acrosome

Question 9

Acrosome reaction

Answer 9

Multiple fusion sites formed between sperm plasma membrane and outer acrosome membrane

Sperm binds to zona pellucida
= vesicles which enzymes pass through
Penetrates zona pellucida

Question 10

Prevention of polyspermy

Answer 10

Progressive reduciton in sperm numbers that reach oviduct

Zona pellusida block

Plasma membrane block