EMBRYOLOGY
Defination
Spermatogenesis
• Formation of Gemets (spermatozoa)
• Takes place during Reproductive period (12-16 yrs to old age)
• Formed in the wall of Seminiferous tubules of the Testes.
• In microscope there are we found different stages of spermatogenesis
(many cells of different sizes and shapes) and supporting Sertoli cells.
The cell-stages in Spermatogenesis:-
The cell-stages in Spermatogenesis:-
• Spermatogonia type A or Germ cells (44+X+Y) divide mitotically and
give rise more spermatogonia of typeA (44+X+Y)& typeB(44+X+Y)
• TypeB spermatogonia enlarge,undergo mitosis,to form primary
spermatocytes (44+X+Y)
• By first meiotic division each primary spermatocyte forms two
secondary spermatocytes(22+X) or (22+Y).
• In second meiotic division it divides to form 2 spermatids.
SPERMIOGENESIS
• By changes in the shape circular spermatid become a spermatozoon.
Fertilization
Definition:
• The process of union of a haploid male gamete or sperm with a
haploid female gamete or ovum to form a diploid cell, the zygote, is
called fertilization.
Site of Fertilization:
• In man fertilization is internal (external in case of frog) as in other
mammals. It takes place usually in the ampulla of the fallopian tube.
Process of Fertilization:
• Male discharges the semen into the vagina of the female during
copulation (coitus). From the vagina, the sperms reach the ampulla
partly by the movement of their tails and partly by the action of
uterus. The sperms present in the semen travel a long way from
vagina through the uterus into the fallopian tube.
• Sperms may reach fallopian tube within five minutes. The sperm can
survive in the female’s reproductive tract for 1 to 3 days and it can
fertilize the ovum in 12 to 24 hours following ovulation. During sexual
intercourse, nearly 300 million sperms are introduced into the vagina,
but only few hundreds of them reach near the ovum.
Events of Fertilization:
1. Activation of sperm and ovum:
• The sperms can fertilize an ovum only they are able to secrete the
chemical hyaluronidase and possess a surface protein called
antifertilizin (composed of acidic amino acid). The ovum secretes a
chemical named fertilizin (composed of glycoprotein = mono
saccharides + amino acids). It mixes with the water to form egg water
which attracts the sperms of its own species.
2. Penetration of sperm:
• The fertilizin of an egg interacts with the anti fertilizin of sperm of the same
species. This attraction between fertilizin and antifertilizin makes the
sperms stick to the egg surface. The process of acquiring the capacity to
fertilize the egg by the sperm is called capacitation. In this process, the
membrane surrounding the acrosome of the sperm breaks and releases its
contents, the sperm lysin. It is the chemical substance present in the
sperm’s acrosome.
• The ovum is surrounded by three membranes such as corona radiata, zona
pellucida and the vitelline membranes. At first the sperm passes through
corona radiata to reach zona pellucida. There it releases the enzyme
hyaluronidase or sperm lysin from its acrosome (Fig. 3(B).8). This enzyme
dissolves zona pellucida as a result of which the sperm reaches the plasma
membrane of the egg. The above changes on the sperm head are called
acrosome reaction.
Process of penetration
At the point of contact with the sperm, the egg forms a
projection, termed the cone of reception or fertilization
cone which receives the sperm. Once one sperm has
entered the egg (ovum) the vitelline membrane thickens
and is converted into fertilization membrane. This
membrane is rigid and never allows other sperms to pass
through this membrane. Penetration of the sperm initiates
a second maturation division of the ovum and a second
polar body is given off.
3. Amphimixis:
• A sperm consists of three parts: head, middle piece and tail. Shortly before or
after entering the egg, the sperm loses its tail (Fig. 3(B).9). After the sperm enters
the egg, the membrane of head and middle piece dissolves, liberating nucleus,
centrosome and mitochondria. Now the sperm nucleus enlarges to form the male
pronuclear and the nucleus of the ovum becomes female pronuclear.
• The male pronuclear moves inwards and then changes its direction to meet the
egg nucleus. The initial path is known as penetration path and the second path is
known as copulation path. The chromosomes (haploid set) of (he sperm and the
chromosomes (haploid set) of the egg or ovum are set free by the breakdown of
their nuclear envelops.
• Mixing up of the chromosomes of a sperm and an ovum resulting in a diploid
zygote nucleus is known as amphimixis or karyogamy. The mother is now said to
be pregnant. The centrosome form asters and spindle fibres. The paternal and
maternal chromosomes move to lie in the equator of the spindle and the zygote
is ready for division by cleavage.
Significance:
Fertilization has the following significance:
• 1. Fertilization restores the diploid number of chromosomes, i.e. 46 in human being.
• 2. It provides stimulus for the ovum to complete its maturation.
• 3. Fertilization combines the characters of two parents. This brings about recombination of genes
and introduces variations.
• 4. It determines the sex of the embryo in humans.
• 5. Fertilization introduces the centrioies which are absent in ovum.
• 6. Fertilization membrane formed after the entry of the sperm prevents the entry of additional
sperms.
