TOPIC: Fertilization and Gametogenesis

FERTILIZATION
I. Egg cell and sperm cell die to make new life
II. Sperm cells function is to deliver genes.
III. Egg cells functions:
A. Prevents polyspermy
B. Houses development of new organism
AMPHIBIAN FERTILIZATION
I. Amplexus - sexual position of frog
II. External
III.Egg cells of frog/toad:
A. Chained - toad/bull frog
B. Clustered - frog
IV. 3 years: maturation of frog egg cell
AMPHIBIAN EGG DEVELOPMENT
I. Pre-vitellogenic stage
A. No yolk
B. Presence of nucleolus: sign of active transcription
of RNA
C. Lateral loops: actual sites of transcription
D. RNA attach to nuclear membrane
II. Vitellogenesis
A. Cytoplasm: large and rigid due to accumulation of
yolk platelets
B. Vitellogenin
C. Morphogens: cytoplasmic determinants which
tells actual fate of the cells during development
D. Plasma membrane: adheres to vitelline
membrane
E. Jelly coat: prevents desiccation; protective coat
as shock absorber/cushion; protection against
predators which fail to ingest the large cell
MAMMALIAN EGG DEVELOPMENT
I. Primordial follicle - hormone independent development
A. Meiosis in humans occurs about ve months in
the ovum
B. 2 million are initially produced; only few mature
C. Follicle cells: single layer around oocyte; nurse
cells; already undergoing meiosis
D. Found at cortical region of ovary
E. Stroma: connective tissue surrounding egg
F. Off-center nucleus
II. Primary/Unilaminar follicle
A. Developing zona pellucida, between oocyte and
follicle cells
B. Great number of follicle cells
C. Ovarian follicle: combination of oocyte and follicle
cells
D. Meiosis I
III. Secondary/multilaminar follicle
A. Zona pellucida fully developed
1. acellular
2. glycoprotein
3. prevents polyspermy
4. prevents immature egg release
5. prevents tubal or ectopic pregnancy
B. Granulosa cells: follicle cells immediately outside
the oocyte, external to A
C. Theca interna: external to B, cellular, attened
D. Theca externa: external to C, connective tissue,
acellular, brous
E. Meisos II
IV. Antral follicle - hormone-dependent development
A. Antrum: large cavity due to growing number of
follicle cells which form pockets, intercellular
spaces
B. Off-centered lamina
C. Glassy membrane: between theca interna and
granulosa
V. Mature/Graaan follicle
A. Cumulus oophorus: group of cells that hold the
oocyte in such a way that its perched towards
the antrum
B. Corona radiata: follicle cells with microvilli
surrounding the oocyte; external to ZP
C. Membrana granulosa: surrounds antrum
D. Theca membranes
VI. Meiosis arrests:
A. Prophase I - diplotene; broken by puberty
B. Metaphase II; broken by fertilization
MAMMALIAN SPERM DEVELOPMENT
I. General characteristics:
A. 50-70 micrometers; ovoid body
B. 200 million in number
II. Spermatogonia:
A. Type A - chromatin granules in periphery
1. Dark: condensation of chromatin granules
2. Pale: scattered
B. Type B - evident nucleolus; to undergo meiosis
III. Spermatogenesis occurs during puberty
IV. Cytoplasmic bridges: groups of maturing sperm so
that their maturation is synchronized; residual body
phagocytosed by Sertoli cells
V. Other spermatogenic cells:
A. Primary spermatocytes
B. Secondary spermatocytes
C. Spermatids - spermiogenesis
D. Spermatozoa - mature sperms
VI. Spermiogenesis
A. Development
1. acrosome cap - contains enzymes
2. mitochondria - provides energy
3. agellum - for swimming
B. Head: highly condensed nucleus due to
protamine protein instead of histone
VII. Capacitation
PAGUIO NOTES
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A. Functional maturity outside the seminiferous
tubules
B. Occurs inside the female reproductive tract
C. Unmasking of glycosyltransferase
D. Prevents premature release of of enzyme
MAMMALIAN FERTILIZATION
I. Corona radiata: hyaluronidase enzyme and acrosin
(actual drill)
II. Zona pellucida
A. ZP3: primary receptors
1. N-acetylglucosamine
2. Galactose
3. Zona receptor kinase
B. ZP2: maintains binding of the sperm (inner
acrosomal membrane)
C. ZP1: cross link the ZP3 and ZP2
D. Sperm adhesion proteins
1. Galactosyltransferase
2. SP 56
3. P95
E. Process: ZP3 receptors> cascade of transduction
pathways > G-protein and kinase > IP3 synthesis
and release of calcium ions from ER > Calcium
ions release other acrosomal proteases
F. Purpose of numerous adhesion proteins: added
adhesion affect; ensure binding
III. Acrosome reaction
A. Fusion of plasma membrane and sperm head:
fertilin (sperm) and integrin (egg)
B. Equatorial domain: actual site of attachment of
sperm to plasma membrane
C. Position of sperm head is not perpendicular, but
parallel to plasma membrane
IV. Cortical reaction
A. Changes that happen in the cortex of egg
cytoplasm
B. Cortical granules: beneath plasma membrane;
migrate to PM and exocytose proteases
C. Process:
1. GAGs (glycoaminoglycans) create osmotic
gradient; water enters; space between
plasma membrane and vitelline membrane
swells > perivitelline space + fertilization
membrane
2. Proteases cleave protein links between PM
and VM which fuse
3. Peroxidase hardens and inactivates zona
pellucida and its receptors, respectively
V. Block to polyspermy
A. Fast block to polyspermy: opening of ion
channels, entry of sodium ions, depolarization of
membrane
B. Slow block to polyspermy
1. Actual cortical reaction
VI. Amphimixis
A. Actual fusion of male and female gametes - fusion
of pronuclei
B. Egg is arrested at Meiosis II: release of second
polar body
C. Formation of pronuclei
1. Sperm: protamine replaced by histones;
decondensation of chromosomes
2. Egg: decondensed
D. Fusion of nuclear membranes; individual cells die
E. Euchromatic turns into chromatic
F. Results of fertilization:
1. Diploid formation
2. Initiation of prenatal development
G. Other animals:
1. Amphibians: gray crescent - cortical rotation
30 degree shift; sets axes; located dorsal and
posterior (opposite sperm entry point);
initiation of gastrulation
PAGUIO NOTES
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