EXERCISE 1 – GAMETOGENESIS  Cell growth – cessation of

mitosis in favor of the acquisition

Two types of cells: of raw materials for the
1) Somatic cells – give rise to all synthesis of protoplasm
other cell in the body  Cell maturation – two successive
2) Germ cells – give rise to gametes divisions (mitosis) takes place.
This is accompanied by
Primordial germ cells chromosomal divisions, which
- initial germ cells that are formed results in the reduction of the
- must journey from where they formed chromosomes number by one
to the developing gonad (ovary and/or half
testis) and where they divide mitotically
to produce a large population of germ Sperms
cells - oval shape
- lose their cytoplasm retaining only a
 Spermatogonia – in males small amount
 Oogonia – in females - form a flagellum which they use for
Note: These two cells are usually swimming in liquid medium
stem cells) - undergoes meiotic divisions which
reduce their chromosome number into
Stem cells half
- are undifferentiated cells that divide
mitotically producing two types of cells Eggs
(Note: It is the stem cell nature of the - increase in size
spermatogonia and oogonia that allow - starts to have a large amount of yolk
organisms over their lifetimes to - immotile
produce billions of sperm and eggs) - undergoes meiotic divisions which
reduce their chromosome number into
Gametogenesis half
- is the 1st phase in the sexual
reproduction of animals Specimens for spermatogenesis:
- is the process of the formation of sex  Grasshopper’s testis
cells for the male and female gametes  Frog’s testis
- In males, the process of forming sperm  Chick’s testis
is called spermatogenesis  Mouse’s testis
- In females, the formation of ova or eggs
is called oogenesis Speciments for oogenesis:
- The major processes involved during  Frog’s ovary
this stage are:  Cat’s ovary
 Human’s ovary
 Cell proliferation – primitive
germ cells or primordial sex cells SPERMATOGENESIS
repeatedly divide by mitosis into
identical cells
- is the process by which the male
gametes are formed
- occurs in the seminiferous tubules in
the testes
- develops in association with specialized
somatic cells
HISTOLOGY OF THE GRASSHOPPER’S TESTIS
Defining characteristic:
 Each testis is divided into several
lobes
Stages of development:
Spermatogonia
- small and crowded cells
- located at the blunt end of the testis
- The nuclei of these cells show a beaded
appearance of the chromatin material
- have large nuclei containing
conspicuous masses of chromatin
Primary spermatocytes
- these are spermatogonium that has
undergone growth and is now ready to
divide
- have very large nuclei
- different substages of Prophase I:
 Interphase – incospicous;
appears finely granular and may
show a single pale vascular
nucleolus
 Leptotene – chromatin are at
their longest (uncoiled state);
appear to completely fill the cell
 Zygotene or Synaptene
- presence of thickened region in
the chromosomes; indicates the
beginning of pairing (synapsis) of
homologous chromosomes
(Note: The point of contact
between two homoloques is the
synaptonemal complex)
- The paired chromosomes
assumes the shape of long loops
attached by their extremity on
one given area of the nuclear
envelop; they are drawn to one
side of the cell until they take
the shape of a “bouquet”
 Late zygotene – double
thickness of the chromosome
strands indicate advanced
pairing
 Pachytene – complete pairing
and the eventual exchange of
chromosomal arms; shortened
and thickened state of
chromosomes (Note: cells seem
to be in its haploid condition
already)
 Diplotene
- chromosomes partly split
- Four strands on each
homologous pair can be
discerned due to relaxation of
pairing; chromosomes are
thicker in appearance
- Chiasma is first seen here and
the interchanges between the
homologues keep them united
 Diakinesis – progressive
condensation of the
chromosomes; chromosomes
are seen at their shortest and
thickest
Secondary spermatocytes
- smaller than primaries
- chromosomes are not evident
Spermatids
- possess a haploid set of chromosomes
but are still capable of functioning as
male gametes; They still have to
undergo metamorphosis called
spermiogenesis (the transformation of
 spermatids to spermatozoa, is inevitable
or the the sperms are rendered useless)
- involve major nuclear and cytoplasmic
changes; terminate in the formation of
functional sperm
- elongates, most of the cytoplasm is
sloughed off, except for a small amount
which becomes the tail sheath
surrounding a fine tail filament which
grows back from the centrosome
- Chromatin mass becomes more
condensed and elongated to form the
solidity staining head
- The definitive sperm, which is ready to
fertilize eggs, consists of the:
 head – ten or more times as long
as its wide
 middle piece – containing the
centrosome and mitochondria
 tail – extremely long
Spermatozoa
- mature sperm cells
- exhibit long, thin and darkly staining
heads with distinct tails, which measure
seven to eight times longer than the
heads
- are abundant at the distal region of the
grasshopper’s testis
HISTOLOGY OF FROG’S TESTIS
Structures
Mesorchium
- portion of the peritoneum that
suspends the testis to the dorsal body
wall immediately ventral to the kidney
and between the layers of which pass
the tubes of the vas deferens
Tunica albuginea
- outer connective tissue which covers
the testis
- known as intertubular connective tissue
or septula, extends into the substance
of the testis and partitions it into many
compartments containing the
seminiferous tubules
Seminiferous tubule
- a much coiled tubule containing the
clusters of spermatogenic cells
undergoing the same stage of
development
- is connected with the vas deferens
Sertoli or sustentacular cells
- nurse cells
Spermatocyts or Cell nest or Follicular cyst
- cluster of similar cells undergoing the
same stage of development
- is surrounded by follicle cells
- is formed from a primary
spermatogonium and its associate
follicle
- forms gonia of the 2nd and 3rd order,
which may undergo maturation
divisions and forms spermatozoa
Stages of development
Spermatogonia
- small, closely packed cells, each with a
granular oval nucleus
Primary spermatocytes
- very large cells
- irregularly spherical
- possess large and vesicular nuclei
Secondary spermatocytes
- result of 1st meiotic division
- half the size of the primaries
- lie toward the lumen of the tubule
- have a darkly staining nucleus
- cytoplasm clearly visible and prominent

Spermatids
- smaller than secondary spermatocytes
- possess a condensed nucleus of
irregular shape

Spermatozoa
- average 0.30mm
- Each sperm has an elongated, solid
staining head (nucleus) with an anterior
acrosome, pointing outwardly toward
the periphery of the seminiferous
tubule
- Its tail appears as a gray filamentous
extension of the sperm head

Maturing spermatozoa
- are dependent upon external sources
for nutrition
- group into 25 to 40 cells
- Their heads may be seen converging
into the cytoplasm of a relatively
columnar-type basal cell known as
sertoli cell