SPERMATOGENESIS
DR. PRAVEEN KATARIYA
Dept. of Anatomy
Pt. J.N.M. Medical College, Raipur
PHYSIO-ANATOMY OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
MALE GONAD / TESTIS
• 450-500
seminiferous
tubules per testis
each >0.5 m
• Total tubular
length in testis is
approx. 400m
• Epididymis is
approx. 6m
SPERMATOGENESIS
Sequence of events by which spermatogonia are
transformed into mature spermatozoa.
• SITE: Seminiferous tubules of testes
• AGE OF BEGINNING: At Puberty 12-16
Years
• DURATION: 64 -74 DAYS
• Spermatogenesis requires a temperature i.e.,
2°C below the core body temperature
STAGES IN SPERMATOGENESIS
1. Spermatocytosis
2. Meiosis
3. Spermiogenesis
1. SPERMATOCYTOSIS
It is the process of conversion of spermatogonia to
primary spermatocytes.
It takes 16 days. It is by repeated mitotic divisions.
• Formation of stem cells: The PGCs give rise to
spermatogonial stem cells.
• Cell growth: From these stem cells a group of cells
are formed at regular intervals and are called type
A spermatogonia. Production of type A
spermatogonia marks the beginning of
spermatogenesis.
1. SPERMATOCYTOSIS
• Mitotic divisions: Type A spermatogonia (44 + X
+ Y) undergo a limited number of mitotic divisions
and form a clone of cells.
The last division of cells become Type B
spermatogonia.
The type A spermatogonia are dark and
type B are pale in color.
Type A spermatogonia are reserve cells.
The spermatogonia (type B) (44 + X + Y) enlarge,
or undergo mitosis, to form primary spermatocytes
1. SPERMATOCYTOSIS
Primordial germ cells/spermatogonial cells
undergo mitotic division and forms :
• Dark Type A spermatogonial cells (acts as a
reserve)
• Type B spermatogonial cells formed from
Light Type A spermatogonial cells (which
enlarges to form Primary spermatocyte, which
undergo meiosis)
2. MEIOSIS
• It is the process of conversion of primary
spermatocytes to secondary spermatocytes and
then spermatids.
• It takes 24 days.
Occurs in two steps-
1. First meiotic division: it reduces the number of
chromosomes to half.
2. Second meiotic division and this time there is no
reduction in chromosome number. It is called
equation meiosis.
2. MEIOSIS
• First meiotic division:
• The primary spermatocytes (44 + X + Y) now
divide so that each of them forms two
secondary spermatocytes. This is the first
meiotic division: it reduces the number of
chromosomes to half.
• Each secondary spermatocyte has 22 + X or 22
+ Y chromosomes.
2. MEIOSIS
• Second meiotic division:
• Each secondary spermatocyte ( 22 + X or 22 +
Y) divides to form two spermatids.
• This is the second meiotic division and this
time there is no reduction in chromosome
number. It is called equation meiosis.
• There occurs balancing of species specific
chromosome number and DNA content by
reduction and equation divisions.
2. MEIOSIS
• Type B spermatogonia enter meiosis I and
undergo DNA replication & forms Primary
spermatocytes (46, 4N)
• Complete meiosis I and forms two secondary
spermatocytes (23, 2N)
• Complete meiosis II and forms four spermatids
(23, 1N)
3. SPERMIOGENESIS
• It is the process of metamorphosis of spermatids to
spermatozoa.
• It takes 24 days.
• Definition - The process by which a spermatid
(22 + X / 22 + Y) gradually changes its shape to
become a spermatozoon is called spermiogenesis
(or spermateleosis).
• It is the final stage in the maturation of spermatids
into mature, motile spermatozoa.
3. SPERMIOGENESIS
Spermatids (immature, non motile and not capable
for fertilizing of ovum)
The spermatid is a more or less circular cell
containing
• A Nucleus,
• Golgi apparatus,
• Centriole and
• Mitochondria
All these components take part in forming the
spermatozoon
3. SPERMIOGENESIS
• Spermatids undergoes a series of morphologic
changes (called Spermiogenesis) to form
spermatozoon(23, 1N)
• These changes include
[Link] of the Acrosome
[Link] of the nucleus
[Link] of the head, neck, middle piece &
tail
Major events in spermiogenesis
• Nuclear morphogenesis and condensation.
• Formation of tail.
• Formation of acrosome.
• Rearrangement of organelles (Mitochondria,
centrioles)
• Shedding of excess cytoplasm. •
Various processes in spermiogenesis :
• Nucleus: condensation of nucleus and its
movement to one pole forms the head. –
Golgi apparatus: The Golgi apparatus is
transformed into the acrosomic cap.
Acrosomal cap covers twothird of nucleus. –
Centrosome: The centriole divides into two
parts that are at first close together. The
proximal centriole
Spermiogenesis
Spermatozoon
• Haploid motile gamete cell
• Axoneme - microtubular structures in tail that propels sperm.(
9+2 structure)
• Acrosome is a membrane bound sac derived from golgi
apparatus containing hydrolytic enzymes for fertilization.
• Spiral arrangement of mitochondria around the body/ Middle
piece.
• Neck consist of proximal centriole (0.3 microns)
AXONEME( 9+2 Arrangement)
• Spermatozoon achieves its progressive
motility in epididymis.
• They are stored temporarily in epididymis.
CAPACITATION
• When sperm comes to contact of female genital tract,
multiple changes occurs that activate sperm for final process
of fertilization.
• Takes 1-10 hrs
• CHANGES -:
• Washing away of inhibitory factors from uterine &tubal
secretions
• Losing of cholesterol from head of sperm
• Increased permeability of Ca++ that
(a) increase whiplash activity &
(b) help in release of enzymes from head membrane
ROLE OF HORMONES IN SPERMATOGENESIS
• TESTOSTERONE- Growth & division of germ cells
• LUTEINIZING HORMONE- Stimulate leydig cells to secrete
testosterone
• FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE- Stimulate sertoli cells
• ESTROGENS- probably essential for spermiogenesis
• GROWTH HORMONE-
-Controls metabolic functions of testes
-Promote early division of spermatogonia
-Pituitary dwarfs (spermatogenesis deficient
or absent )
Hypothalamo-Pitutary-Testis Axis
Sertoli Cell
• Columnar irregular epithelial cells having
cytoplasmic appendages
• Also called Nurse cells/ Sustentacular cells
/mother cells.
Functions of Sertoli Cells
• Provides nutrition
• Blood Testis Barrier formation by tight junctions.
• Provide structural support by forming adhering & gap
junctions with all stages of sperm cells.
• Secretes ABP, inhibin,Mullerian inhibiting
substance(MIS),activin, plasminogen activator.
• Phagocytosis
• Tubular fluid synthesis
• Osmotic gradient
• It has receptors for androgen and FSH.
Applied
1. CRYPTORCHIDISM
• High temperature in undescended testis
causes sterility
• Leydig cells are not affected so secondary
characters develop normally.
2. ADIPOSOGENITAL SYNDROME, FRÖHLICH’S
SYNDROME, OR HYPOTHALAMIC EUNUCHISM
• Some instances of hypogonadism are caused by a
genetic inability of the hypothalamus to secrete
normal amounts of GnRH.
• Often associated with a simultaneous abnormality of
the feeding center of the hypothalamus, causing the
person to greatly overeat.
• Consequently, obesity occurs along with eunuchism.
• A patient with this condition is called Adiposogenital
syndrome, Fröhlich’s syndrome, or Hypothalamic
eunuchism
3. Testicular Tumors :
• Interstitial Leydig Cell Tumors:
• Produce testosterone 100 times. (Precocious
pseudopuberty)
• In young children, cause rapid growth of the musculature
and bones, early uniting of epiphyses, adult height is less.
• Cause excessive development of male sexual organs, all
skeletal muscles, and other male sexual characteristics.
• In the adult male, difficult to diagnose because masculine
features are already present.
• Tumors Of The Germinal Epithelium (Teratoma)
SPERMATOGENESIS
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