EMBRYOLOGY

Keith L. Moore
GAMETOGENESIS
 Abnormal
gametogenesis can
lead to chromosomal
anomalies
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the class you should be able to:

1. Write definition of gametogenesis 7. Tell , the duration which

spermatogonia take to become
2. Name two types of gametogenesis mature sperm

3. Define spermatogenesis 8. Enlist the changes in spermatic

cord after birth and at puberty
4. Enlist the steps involved in
Spermatogenesis 9. Tell the structure of mature sperm.

5. Enumerate the steps involved in 10. Name different types of

spermiogenesis abnormal sperm and write the
percentage of abnormal gametes
6. List out the changes involved in present in healthy individuals
above steps semen
 GAMETOGENESIS

 It is process of formation and development of

specialized generative cells called gametes or
germ cells

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 GAMETOGENESIS
DEFINITION:
Human gametogenesis is the process by
which diploid germ cells (Spermatogonia or Oogonia)
form haploid cells (Spermatozoa or Ova) through
sequences of cell divisions and cell differentiation.
It can simply be described as a procedure by which
sperms and ova are designed in the testes and ovaries
respectively.

In the male, the process is known as Spermatogenesis

and produces spermatozoa, while in the female it is
refer to as Oogenesis and results in the formation of
ova (Eggs)
 Why it is required?

 Prepares the gametes or sex cells for

fertilization
 Chromosome number is reduced to half &
shape of cells is altered
 Number is reduced by meiosis

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 Two types

 Spermatogenesis

 Oogenesis

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 Common Terminologies

 DIPLOID 46(2n)
 HAPLOID 23(n)
 HYPODIPLOID 45
 HYPERDIPLOID 47
 Euploid - number of chromosome is exact
multiple of n – 46, 92
 Aneuploid- number of chromosome is not the
multiple of n - 45, 47
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 Phases of Mitosis

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Phases Of Meiosis
Phases of prophase 1
 Meiosis is a special type of cell division that
involves two meiotic cell divisions ; it takes place
in germ cells only. Diploid germ cells give rise
to haploid gametes (sperms and oocytes).
 The first meiotic division is a reduction
division because the chromosome number is
reduced from diploid to haploid by pairing of
homologous chromosomes in prophase and
their segregation at anaphase.
 The second meiotic division follows the first
division without a normal interphase (i.e.,
without an intervening step of DNA replication).
Each chromosome divides and each half, or
chromatid, is drawn to a different pole; thus, the
haploid number of chromosomes (23) is retained
and each daughter cell formed by meiosis has the
reduced haploid number of chromosomes, with
one representative of each chromosome pair (now
a single-chromatid chromosome)
 Meiosis significance:
 Provides constancy of the chromosome number from
generation to generation by reducing the chromosome
number from diploid to haploid, thereby producing
haploid gametes.
 Allows random assortment of maternal and paternal
chromosomes between the gametes .
 Relocates segments of maternal and paternal
chromosomes by crossing over of chromosome
segments, which "shuffles" the genes and produces a
recombination of genetic material
 Abnormal Gametogenesis
 Disturbances of meiosis during
gametogenesis, e.g., nondisjunction result in
the formation of chromosomally abnormal
gametes.
 If involved in fertilization, these gametes with
numerical chromosome abnormalities cause
abnormal development such as occurs in
infants with Down syndrome.
 SPERMATOGENESIS

 Spermatogenesis is the process by which

spermatogonia are transformed into mature
spermatozoa.

 It is the Process of formation & development

of MALE germ cells.

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 SPERMATOGENESIS

Some general considerations

 Spermatogenesis requires lower than normal body temperature as compared to the

Oogenesis. --- one of the reasons for testis to descend and become extra-addominal.

 The stem cells appear as early as 4th to 5th weeks of IUL in undifferentiated gonads.
and multiply to form spermatogonia.

 The process ceases in IUL itself, again starts around puberty. The child is born with
spermatogonia in testis

 In the seminiferous tubule, at any given level, the spermatogenic cells are at different
stages of differentiation.
Spermatogenesis at a glance Stages

 Primordial Germ Cells

 Spermatogonia
 Primary Spermatocyte
 Secondary Spermatocyte
 Spermatid
 Sperm
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 At puberty

 LH - Leutenizing hormone acts on Leydig cells

 Leydig cells – produce Testosterone
 Testosterone – leads to Spermatogenesis
 SERTOLI CELLS– SUPPORTIVE & PROTECTIVE
TO SPERMATOZOA.
 Seminiferous tubule acquires lumen
 Spermatogonia increase in number by mitosis
 Enlarge to form Primary Spermatocyte
Spermatogenesis continue

Spermatogenesis has three sequential phases:

 Mitotic proliferation phase
 Meiotic division phase
 Cytodifferentiation phase

 Mitotic proliferation phase

 is a phase that produces large number of
cells through mitotic divisions.
 The meiotic division phase is aimed at
reducing the chromosome number to half
and to create genetic diversity.
Spermatogenesis

Spermatogonia are situated around the outer edge

of seminiferous tubules next to the basal lamina.

1. Spermatogonia proliferate by mitosis — some

stop to proliferate & differentiate into primary
spermatocytes.

2. Primary spermatocytes (diploid cells) enter first

meiotic division (leptotene, zygotene, pachytene
, diakinetic cells)  secondary
spermatocytes.
3. Secondary spermatocytes (haploid cells)
undergo second meiotic division  spermatids
— each carrying half chromatide.

4. Spermatids undergo morphological transforma-

tion — spermiogenesis  forming mature
functional spermatozoa
SPERMIOGENESIS

 Series of changes resulting in transformation

of spermatids into spermatozoa is
spermiogenesis

 (300 million sperms are produced daily)

Steps involved in spermiogenesis:

 Formation of Acrosome
 Condensation of nucleus
 Formation of neck, middle piece, tail
 Shedding of most of the cytoplasm
Diagrammatic representation of
spermiogenesis
 Acrosome is formed
from golgi complex

 Tail is formed from

centrioles

 Mitochondria forms
sheath in neck

 Cytoplasm is lost
Sperm - parts

 Parts of SPERM
  Head
  Neck
  Body
  Tail – principal piece - end piece Head:
  Acrosomal cap
  Nucleus
  Cytoplasm
Sperm transport in male Reproductive
tract
 Newly formed Sperms
 Non motile
 Immature
 Can not fertilize

 To be able to fertilize the Sperm should acquire

 Motility
 Maturity
 Capacitation
 Undergo Acrosome reaction

 Sperms attain
 Maturity–from epididymis to ampulla of Vas.
 Motility–ampulla of Vas to vagina.
 Capacitation –in uterus and uterine.
 Acrosomal reaction -tube.in uterine tube and corona radiata.
Sperm abnormalities

 Abnormal sperms also

formed during this process.
two heads
two tails
short tail
long tail
Large head
Sperm abnormalities
 Chromosomal:
 No. and shape of chromosomes.
 Morphology:
 up to 20 -25% abnormal are acceptable.
 Amount:
 less than 60 million per ejaculate is abnormal
(oligospermia).
 No sperms –azospermia.
 Motility:
 Should be progressive . Loop or ring motility is
abnormal. 75% should be motile. 40% after 2 hours.
Semen –Male ejaculate
 Highly viscous –dull white colour.
 pH 7.2 to 7.6.
 2 to 6 ml at one time.
 Composition
 -sperms 10%
 -fluid 90%
 Sperms –100 million / ml
 or 350 million per ejaculate.
 Out of 10% sperms

 -5% androsperms
 -5% gynosperms
 Out of 90% Fluid

 -60% seminal fluid

 -30% prostatic secretions
 -10% bulbo urethral gland
 secretions
 Shape: 75 –80% are normal
 Motility: 75% are motile. More than 40% should be motile after 2 hours.
 Movement:

 0.5 mm per min in Vagina

 2-3 mm / min. in uterus

Most likely feature of spermiogenesis is
a. Formation of short tail
b. Increased amount of cytoplasm
c. Formation of polar bodies
d. Condensation of nucleus
e. To acquire motility
Regarding spermiogenesis, the FALSE
statement is:
f. Spermatids are transformed into
spermatozoa
g. There is condensation of the nucleus.
h. Most of the cytoplasm is shed off
i. Acrosome is formed
j. It takes place during the foetal period
Spermiogenesis takes place during
a. Embryonic period
b. Fetal period.
c. Infancy
d. Early childhood
e. Puberty
Embryologist while discussing the steps of maturation of
male germ cells at puberty asked the students to tell the
outcome of completion of 2nd meiotic division. What is
your answer?
f. Spermatids
g. Secondary spermatocytes
h. Primary spermatocytes
i. Type B spermatogonia
j. Type A spermatogonia
 Exchange of genetic material takes place during which
phase?
 A Prophase of mitotic division
 B Prophase of 1st meiotic division
 C Metaphase of 1st meiotic division
 D Prophase of 2nd meiotic division
 E Metaphase of 2nd meiotic division