FERTILIZATION & IMPLANTATION
Objectives
• This lecture explain spermatogenesis and oogenesis then normal fertilization regarding time and
site .
• Also normal and abnormal implantation .
Gametogenesis
The creation of highly specialized sex cells
Spermatogenesis
The process of development of spermatids from the male primordial germ cells and their
differentiation into spermatozoa.
Under stimulation anterior pituitary gonadotropic hormones.
PROCESS :
1. The Primordial germ cells develop into spermatogonia.
2.This occurs after puberty, and they remain in the wall of the Seminiferous Tubule .
3.Spermatogonia form primary spermatocytes.
4.They remain in the prophase of 1st meiotic division for 16 days.
5. Each contains 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosome XY.
6.Then divides into two secondary spermatocytes. (Meiotic div.
completed).
7.Each secondary spermatocyte has equal cromosomes.(22+X) or
(22+Y).
8.Each of these divides again(2nd meiotic div), thus forming 4
Spermatids.
9.Each containing equal cytoplasm and, HAPLOID chromosomes….
TWO with 23X & TWO with 23Y
Spermiogenesis
Spermatids undergo morphological changes to form spermatozoa
Structure Of The Sperm
The Head
• has two important features.
1. The acrosome (derived from Golgi apparatus) contains hydrolytic enzymes which are released
when the sperm reaches an ovum. These enzymes digest the outer membrane of the egg
(proteins and complex sugars) , allowing penetration of the sperm.
2. The nucleus (haploid) contains a single set of chromosomes derived from the male. This will
include either an 'X' or 'Y' chromosome, because of the way the XY separate during meiosis.
The Middle Piece
• behind the head, contains numerous mitochondria. These respire sugars in the semen to
generate ATP in order to provide the energy for movement of the tail.
The Tail
• (Flagellum) contains microfilaments running the length of the tail (arranged in the usual 9 + 2
)Rhythmic contraction of the filaments causes the tail to wave and move against the fluid
environment, providing forward motion.
Female Genital System
The Ovary: female sex gland, produce ova.
The Uterus: in which the fetus develop.
Oogenesis
Formation of female gametes, it means differentiation of female primordial germ cell (oogonium) into
mature ovum.
Oogonia(2N) increased in the ovary through mitotic division.
Oogonia (2N) grow to primary oocytes (2N) intrauterine in primordial follicle.
primary oocytes (2N) enter meioses Ι but arrest until preovulation complete it to produce secondary
oocytes (N) & first polar body (N).
Then, complete the second meioses to form mature ova (N) and second polar body at fertilization.
• The total number of primary oocytes at birth is estimated to vary from 600,000 to 800,000.
• During childhood, most oocytes become atretic; only approximately 40,000 are present by the
beginning of puberty, and fewer than 500 will be ovulated. Some oocytes that reach maturity late
in life have been dormant in the diplotene stage of the first meiotic division for 40 years or more
before ovulation. Whether the diplotene stage is the most suitable phase to protect the oocyte
against environmental influences is unknown.
• The fact that the risk of having children with chromosomal abnormalities increases with maternal
age indicates that primary oocytes are vulnerable to damage as they age.
FERTILIZATION
• It is the process during which a male gamete (sperm) unites with a female gamete (oocyte ) to form
a single cell (ZYGOTE).
Fertilization
• Begins with a contact between the sperm & the ovum.
• Ends up with intermingling of the maternal and paternal
chromosomes
Site
• Usually in the ampulla of the uterine tube.
• Ampulla is the longest and widest part.
• Fertilization may occur in other parts of tubes.
• Does not occur in the uterine cavity.
• Chemical signals from oocyte attract the sperms.
Spermatozoa
• Spermatozoa are not able to fertilize the oocyte immediately upon arrival in the female genital
tract but must undergo
• (1) capacitation and (2) the acrosome reaction to acquire this capability.
• Capacitation is a period of conditioning in the female reproductive tract that in the human lasts
approximately 7 hours.
• capacitation occurs in the uterine tube and involves epithelial interactions between the sperm
and the mucosal surface of the tube. During this time, a glycoprotein coat and seminal plasma
proteins are removed from the plasma membrane that overlies the acrosomal region of the
spermatozoa.
• Only capacitated sperm can pass through the corona cells and undergo the acrosome reaction.
The acrosome reaction,
occurs after binding to the zona pellucida, is induced by zona
proteins. This reaction culminates in the release of enzymes
needed to penetrate the zona pellucida, including acrosin- and
trypsin-like substances
Phases of Fertilization
• 1- Passage of sperm through corona radiata, under the effect of : hyaluronidase enzyme from
sperms, tubal E. and movement of tail of sperm.
• 2- Penetration of the zona pellucida by head of sperms through acrosine E. from acrosome of one
sperm.
• 3- Fusion of the plasma membrane of the oocyte and that of the sperm. so sperm’s plasma
membrane remains behind.
• 4- Completion of the second meiotic division & formation of the female pronucleus.
• 5- Formation of the male pronucleus :
It is a swollen nucleus of the sperm.
Its tail is detached and degenerated.
Zona reaction : it is a change in properties of zona pellucida that makes it impermeable to other
sperms.
Chromosomes in zygote
• Zygote is genetically unique.
• Half of its chromosomes come from the father and the other half comes from the mother.
• zygote contains 46 chromosomes (diploid).
• New combination is formed which is different from either of the parents.
Sex of the Embryo
• Embryo's chromosomal sex is determined at the time of fertilization.
• Sex is determined by the type of sperm (X or Y) that fertilizes the oocyte.
• So, it is the father whose gamete decides the sex.
Results of Fertilization
• Stimulates the penetrated oocyte to complete its 2nd meiotic division.
• Restores the normal diploid number of chromosomes in the zygote (46).
• Determines the chromosomal sex of the embryo.
• Initiates cleavage (cell division) of the zygote.
Cleavage of Zygote
• Consists of repeated mitotic divisions of the zygote.
• Rapid increase in the number of the cells.
• These smaller embryonic cells are called Blastomeres.
• Normally occurs in the uterine tube.
• It begins about 30 hours after fertilization.
• Zygote divides into 2, then 4, then 8, then 16 cells.
• Zygote lies within the thick zona pellucida during
cleavage.
• Zygote migrates in the uterine tube from its lateral end
to its medial end.
• Zona pellucida is translucent under light microscope.
Morula
• When there are 16-32 blastomeres the developing human is called
MORULA.
• The Morula reaches the uterine cavity at this stage.
• Spherical Morula is formed about 3 days after fertilization.
• Formation of blastocyst :
• The Morula reaches the uterine cavity by the 4th day after fertilization, & remains free for one or
two days.
Fluid passes from uterine cavity to the Morula.
• Now the Morula is called Blastocyst, its cavity is called blastocystic cavity, its cells divided into
Embryoblast & Trophoblast.
IMPLANTATION
• Definition :
• It is the process by which the Blastocyst penetrates
the superficial (Compact) layer of the endometrium
of the uterus.
• Site:
• The normal site of implantation is the posterior wall
of the uterus near the fundus.
• Time:
• It begins about the 6th day after fertilization.
• It is completed by the 11th or 12th day.
By the 5th day the Zona pellucida degenerates.
Blastocyst begins implantation by the 6th day.
Trophoblast cells penetrate the epithelium of the endometrium.
Penetration results from proteolytic enzymes (eg.COX-2) produced by the trophoblast.
• By 7th day, Trophoblast differentiated into 2 layers:
Cytotrophblast, inner layer, mononucleated mitotically active cells.
Syncytiotrophoblast (outer multinucleated mass, with indistinct cell boundary.
• By 8th day the blastocyst is superficially embedded in the compact layer of the endometrium (by
the end of 1st week,the blastocyst is superficially implanted in endometrium).
• Blood-filled Lacunae appear in the Syncytiotrophoblast
which communicate forming a network by the 10th day or 11 th day.
• Syncytiotrophoblast
erodes the endothelial lining of the maternal capillaries which known as sinusoids.
Now blood of maternal capillaries reaches the lacunae so
Uteroplacental circulation
is established by 11th or 12th day.
Endometrial cells undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death) to facilitates invasion of endometrium by
the Syncytiotrophoblast.
Syncytiotrophoblast engulf these degenerated cells for nutrition of the embryo.
Implantation
can be detected by:
1- Ultrasonography.
2- hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin which is secreted by the Syncytiotrophoblast) about the
end of 2nd week
Formation of The Primary Chorionic villi
• By the 13th day Proliferation of Cytotrophblast cells produce extension inside the Syncytiotropho-
blast to form primary the chorionic villi.
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