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FERTILIZATION
Roxanne Jeen L. Fornolles
Spermatogenesis
During formation of the
embryo, the primordial germ
cells migrate into the testes
and become immature germ
cells called spermatogonia.
The spermatogonia begin to
undergo mitotic division,
beginning at puberty, and
continually proliferate and
differentiate through
definite stages of
development to form sperm.
Steps of Spermatogenesis
In the 1st stage of
spermatogenesis, the
spermatogonia migrate
among Sertoli cells
toward the central
lumen of the
seminiferous tubule.
MEIOSIS
Spermatogonia that cross the barrier
into the Sertoli layer become
progressively modified and enlarged
to form primary spermatocytes .
Each of these , in turn, undergoes
meiotic division to form 2 secondary
spermatocytes.
After another few days, these too
divide to form spermatids that are
eventually modifies to become
spermatozoa.
The entire spermatogenesis takes
about 74 days.
Sex Chromosomes
In each spermatogonium, one of the 23 pairs of
chromosomes carries the genetic information that
determines the sex of each eventual offspring.
Formation of Sperm
Semen
Semen, which is ejaculated during the male sexual act,
is composed of the fluid and sperm from the vas
deferens, fluid from seminal vesicles, fluid for prostate
gland, and small amounts from the mucous glands,
especially the bulbourethral glands.
The prostatic fluid gives the semen a milky
appearance, and fluid from seminal vesicles and
mucous glands gives the semen a mucoid consistency.
A clotting enzyme from the prostatic fluid causes the
fibrinogen of the seminal vesicle fluid to form a weak
fibrin coagulum that holds the semen in the deeper
regions of the vagina where the uterine cervix lies.
Capacitation of Spermatozoa Is
Required for Fertilization of the Ovum
Although spermatozoa are said to be mature
when they leave the epididymis, their activity is
held in check by multiple inhibitory factors
secreted by the genital duct epithelia.
Therefore, when they are first expelled in the
semen, they are unable to fertilize the ovum.
However, on coming in contact with the fluids of
the female genital tract, multiple changes occur
that activate the sperm for the final process of
fertilization.
Changes:
1. The uterine and fallopian tube fluids wash away
the various inhibitory factors that suppress
sperm activity in the male genital ducts.
2. Cholesterol is continually added to the cellular
membrane covering the sperm acrosome.
3. The membrane of sperm also becomes much
more permeable to calcium ions.
Sources:
Textbook of Medical Physiology by Guyton and
Hall 12th edition
Comprehensive Gynecology 5th edition by Katz,
Lentz, Lobo and Gershenson