FERTILISATION
The fusion of Haploid male gamete (sperm)and haploid female gamete(ovum) to form a diploid
zygote is called fertilization .In humans fertilization takes place when the ovum and the sperms are
transported simultaneously to the ampulla of the oviduct or the fallopian tube . This is the reason
why not all copulation leads to fertilization.
STEPS OR EVENTS OF FERTILIZATION :
There are multiple steps involved as follows.
Approach of sperm:
During copulation about 3.5 ml of seminal fluid is released into the vagina of females by the
process of ejaculation.
One ejaculation contains about 300 to 400 million of sperms. For normal fertility at least
60% sperms must have normal shape and size and 40% of them must show vigorous motility.
The sperm swim in seminal fluid by lashing movement of their tails at the rate of 1 to 4
mm/min.
The sperm swim towards the fallopian tube through the uterus.
aspiratory action of the uterus and peristaltic movement of the fallopian tubes aid to it.
Sperms encounter physical and chemical barriers in the female reproductive tract
most of the sperms are killed by the acidity of female genital tract and many are engulfed by
phagocytes of the vaginal epithelium. As a result only about 100 of sperms reach to the
fallopian tube.
The fertilising ability of humans sperms in the female genital tract is about 12 to 24 hours,
while they survive up to 3 days.
The ovum is released at secondary oocyte stage on 14th day of the menstrual cycle by the
process of ovulation
Ovum is collected by the fimbriae of the infundibulum .
To thin out the number of sperm the ovum secrets a chemical substance called fertilizin
which has many spermophillic sites ,where the sperms can bind with their anti fertilizin site.
This fertilizin and anti fertilizin reaction is a highly species specific reaction.
the main aim of this reaction is to reduce the chances of polyspermy.
Capacitation: It is the process by which sperms attain functional maturity that is ability to
fertilise
capacitation takes place in female reproductive tract
During capacitation ca++ channels of acrosome membrane open and it makes acrosome
membrane weak so that the lytic enzymes can be released easily.
Penetration of sperms:
The secretions of seminal vesicles ,prostate gland and cowper’s glands activate the sperm to
fertilise egg and neutralise the acidity of vagina
The sperm comes in contact with the ovum at animal pole.
penetration of sperm is a chemical process in which the acrosome of sperm releases sperm
lysin,which contains the following enzymes -Hyaluronidase,corona penetrating enzymes and
zonalysin or Acrosin which dissolves the egg envelopes and makes the path for the
penetration of the sperm.
Hyaluronidase dissolves the Hyaluronic acid polymers in the intercellular spaces which hold
the cells of corona radiata together.
Corona penetrating enzyme dessolves corona radiata.
Zona lysin or acrosin digest Zona pellucida.
only the sperm nucleus and the middle piece enter the ovum and the tail is lost.
Cortical reaction:
The penetration of sperm into the egg initiates appearance of cortical granules in the egg
cortex
the vitelline membrane starts lifting from the cortical surface of the egg which produces a
perivitelline space within the vitelline membrane.
cortical granules are extruded by exocytosis in the perivitelline space and they stick on the
inner surface of the vitelline membrane
as a result the vitelline membrane thicken and is called fertilization membrane
formation of fertilization membrane prevents polysperm.
the entry of the sperm stimulates the secondary oocyte to undergo meiosis II which
results in the formation of ovum and second polar body.
(Entry of sperm into the ovum)
Fusion of gametic nuclei to form zygote
Inside the ovum the sperm nucleus takes a definite path called copulation path.
The nuclear membrane of the 2 nuclei degenerate
the centriole of the middle piece form a spindle
the 2 sets of chromosome initially lie on 2 poles of the spindle but later fuse to form
synkaryon.
the fertilised egg is called a zygote ,the process is called amphimixis.
Significance of fertilisation
Provides genetic variation which is needed for evolution
species specific deploidy is attained.
prevents polyspermy.
