GAMETOGENESIS

Spermatogenesis
•The process by which spermatogonia become spermatids
•Begins in puberty
•Occurs in the seminiferous tubules
•As spermatogonia mature, they move from the basal layer of the
seminiferous tubule to its lumen
•Spermatogonia (2n, diploid) cross the blood-testis barrier →
primary spermatocytes (2n, diploid) →secondary spermatocytes
(1n, haploid) → spermatids (1n, haploid)
•Duration: ∼ 2 months
Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis takes place in the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules of the
Sertoli cells
testicles. serve as a scaffold, forming the blood-testis barrier and
providing nutrition and support during the stages of sperm development.

Type A spermatogonia divide, with one of the two daughter cells differentiating into type B
spermatogonia and the other maintaining the cell supply of type A cells.

The type B spermatogonia develop into spermatocyte I cells, which then undergo
meiosis I and divide into two spermatocyte II cells. The two spermatocyte II cells
divide to form spermatids and eventually spermatozoa (sperm). The spermatozoa
accumulate within the lumen of the tubules and are transported to the epididymis, where
final maturation occurs.
Oogenesis and spermatogenesis
Primordial germ cells migrate to the gonads in utero and become oogonia
(♀) or spermatogonia (♂).

Spermatogenesis: Within the testes, spermatogonia remain inactive until

puberty.
At puberty, spermatogonia undergo mitosis to form primary
spermatocytes, which then undergo meiotic division to form four
spermatids within a time span of 64 days.

Spermatids develop into spermatozoa under the influence of testosterone

(spermiogenesis).
Spermiogenesis
•The process by which spermatids become spermatozoa
•Requires testosterone
•Formation of the acrosome
• Derived from the Golgi apparatus
• Contains acid phosphatase, neuraminidase, and hyaluronidase
•Loss of cytoplasmic content
•Condensation of genetic material
•Spermatid elongation
•Development of the flagellum (dysfunctional or absent in
primary ciliary dyskinesia/Kartagener syndrome)
Oogenesis

•Oogenesis is the development of

an immature oocyte into a
secondary oocyte or mature ovum (if
fertilization occurs).
•Begins in utero during fetal growth and
ends with menopause
•At birth, a normal ovary contains
about 1–2 million primary oocytes.
•There is a continuous decline in the
number of primary oocytes after birth.
Primordial germ cells migrate to the gonads in utero and become oogonia (♀)
or spermatogonia (♂).

Oogenesis: Within the ovaries, oogonia undergo mitosis in utero to form

primary oocytes. After birth, primary oocytes undergo meiosis, which is
arrested in prophase I until puberty. Meiosis I resumes shortly before
ovulation and the resulting secondary oocyte remains arrested in metaphase II.
Meiosis II is only completed shortly after fertilization to form an ootid. Each
oogonium results in the formation of one ootid and three degenerating polar
bodies during oogenesis. In the absence of fertilization, the secondary oocyte
degenerates.
Folliculogenesis

•Definition: the maturation of ovarian follicles (required

for oogenesis)
•Sequence: primordial follicle → primary follicle →
secondary follicle → tertiary follicle → corpus luteum
Fertilization is a sequence of coordinated molecular
events involving the merging of the sperm with the egg,
the fusion of the pronuclei and the intermingling of the
maternal and paternal chromosomes. The first form of
human life is the zygote (a diploid cell) from which the
new organism will result.
•Capacitation: maturation of the sperm in the female genital
tract

•Fertilization (conception): usually occurs in the fallopian tubes

(most commonly in the ampulla) within 1 day of ovulation
• Consists of 2 phases: the acrosome reaction (dissolution of
the spermatic cell membrane and the zona pellucida of the
ovum) and impregnation (penetration of the sperm into
the ovum)

•Conjugation (conception): fusion of the sperm and ovum to

form the zygote(single cell)