CHAPTER 35   Animal Reproduction and Development

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case, the secondary oocyte again divides unequally to produce a fertilization occurs. (See the chapter summary for a timeline of
small, additional polar body and the mature egg cell (or ovum), spermatogenesis and oogenesis.)
which contains 23 chromosomes and a large amount of cyto-
plasm. The polar body produced in meiosis I may divide into two C. Hormones Influence Female
additional polar bodies, or it may decompose. Reproductive Function
The egg cell, in receiving most of the cytoplasm, contains
Hormones control the timing of events in the female reproductive
all of the biochemicals and organelles that the zygote will use
system (figure 35.10). The hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and
until its own DNA begins to function. The polar bodies nor-
ovaries are the primary sources of these hormones. A quick com-
mally play no further role in development. Rarely, however,
parison of figure 35.7 and figure 35.10 reveals that the male and
sperm can fertilize polar bodies, and a mass of tissue that
female reproductive systems rely on many of the same hormones.
does not resemble an embryo grows until the woman’s body
Table 35.2 summarizes their functions in both sexes. Females,
rejects it. A fertilized polar body accounts for about 1 in
however, produce these hormones in different quantities and on a
100 miscarriages.
different schedule.
From puberty to menopause (when menstruation stops en-
tirely), monthly hormonal cues prompt an ovary to release one
secondary oocyte into a uterine tube. If a sperm penetrates the
oocyte membrane, meiosis in the oocyte completes, and the nu-
clei from the two parents combine to form the diploid zygote. If
the secondary oocyte is not fertilized, it either disintegrates or is
reabsorbed by the body.
In some ways, oogenesis is similar to spermatogenesis
­(table  35.1). Each process starts with a diploid germ cell Hypothalamus
­(spermatogonium or oogonium), which eventually gives rise Secretes GnRH,
to the haploid gametes. Also, both testes and ovaries contain which stimulates
gametes in various stages of development. Of course, the two
processes also differ. For example, spermatogenesis gives rise
to four equal-sized sperm cells, whereas in females, one oogo-
nium yields one functional egg cell and three smaller polar
bodies.
Also, the timetable for oogenesis differs greatly from that of
spermatogenesis. A male takes about 74 days to produce a sperm Anterior pituitary
cell. In contrast, oogenesis stretches from before birth until after Secretes FSH and LH,
puberty. The ovaries of a 3-month-old female fetus contain 2 mil- which stimulate
lion or more primary oocytes. From then on, the oocytes slowly
degenerate. At birth, a million primary oocytes are present, their
development arrested in prophase I. Only about 400,000 remain Progesterone and
by the time of puberty, after which one or a few oocytes complete estrogen inhibit
meiosis I each month. These secondary oocytes stop meiosis
again, this time at metaphase II. Meiosis is completed only if
Ovaries

TA B L E 35.1 Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis Secrete progesterone

Compared and estrogen,
Stage Spermatogenesis Oogenesis which target

Diploid starting Spermatogonium in Oogonium in ovary

cell seminiferous tubule
Product of mitosis Primary spermatocyte Primary oocyte
(diploid)
Products of Two secondary One secondary oocyte Uterine lining
meiosis I (haploid) spermatocytes and one small polar and other tissues
body
Figure 35.10  Female Reproductive Hormones.  Hormones from the
Products of Four equal-sized One large ovum and hypothalamus regulate the activities of the ovaries and the uterine lining.
meiosis II (haploid) spermatids three small polar Progesterone and estrogen, in turn, regulate hormone release from the
bodies
hypothalamus and anterior pituitary in a negative feedback loop.