THE FIRST WEEK OF

DEVELOPMENT
THE GAMETE, SEX, GAMETE TRANSPORT, FERTILIZATION,
DIFFERENTIATION OF THE ZYGOTE, IMPLANTATION, TWINNING,
GESTATIONAL AGE, INFERTILITY
IN THIS LECTURE WE WILL LEARN
ABOUT
• Structure of the male and female gamete and functional correlates

• Transport of the male and female gametes and the capacitation of sperm

• The process of fertilization

• Cleavage, morula and blastocyst formation

• Implantation

• Determination of gestational age

Fertilization involves interaction between the secondary
oocyte and spermatozoon resulting in fusion of their
nuclei.
Fertilization occurs in the ampulla of the fallopian tube
and requires movement of both sperm and ovum to this
location.
• Ovulation releases the egg into the peritoneal
cavity from where it is transported to the site
of fertilization
• Rhythmic movements of the fimbriae sweep
the egg towards the infudibulum
• Cilia of the fallopian tube sweep tubal fluid
towards the uterine cavity creating a fluid
stream
• Peristaltic activity in the fallopian tube
augments flow of tubal fluid

• Transport is slow within the ampulla (up to 3

days) and more rapid when passing through
the isthmus to the uterine cavity
Sperm transport occurs in both the male and female reproductive tract.
Within the male reproductive tract two processes are responsible for the
transfer of semen from the epididymis to the penile meatus: emission
and ejaculation.
• Semen includes sperm and secretions from accessory
male genital glands
• 2-6ml are produced/ejaculation
• Approx. 100million sperm/ml

• First, sperm pass from the seminiferous tubules to the

epididymis where they undergo final maturation

• In emission, peristalsis of the ductus deferens carries

sperm into the prostatic urethra where they are added to
semen

• In ejaculation, semen is expelled from the penile meatus

following contraction of urethral muscles and
bulbospongiosus
• The vesical sphincter is active during ejaculation
Semen is an alkaline fluid (pH 7.2-7.8) that includes spermatozoa as
well as fluid from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland and bulbourethral
glands. Seminal vesicles contribute 60% of semen volume whereas the
prostate contributes 30%.
• Seminal vesicular fluid is alkaline
• Rich in fructose
• Contains vesiculase

• Prostatic fluid is acidic and

contains zinc and magnesium

• Prostaglandins are an important

component of seminal fluid
Semen is deposited in the upper vagina from where
sperm traverse the female genital tract to reach the
ampulla.
• Semen deposition results in a rapid rise in upper vaginal
pH that favors sperm survival

• Vesiculase dissolves the semen coagulum allowing sperm

to swim through the cervix

• Muscular contractions of the female genital tract are key

for sperm transport to the uterine tubes

• Interaction with the tubal epithelium in the isthmus

results in capacitation of sperm
• Membrane glycoproteins and cholesterol are removed,
allowing the sperm to interact with the egg

• Tubal peristalsis brings the sperm and egg together

Human oocytes are typically fertilized shorty
(approx. 12 hours) following ovulation.
• Ova are non-viable as soon as 24H following ovulation

• Sperm are viable within the female reproductive tract for up to 4 days
• Steady release of sperm from the cervical crypts can maintain a population of
sperm within the female reproductive tract for most of the fertile window.
Fertilization is a series of events beginning with sperm penetration of
the corona radiata and concluding with the comingling of maternal and
paternal chromosomes to form the diploid zygote
1. Penetration of the corona radiata courtesy of sperm motility and digestive
enzymes (hyaluronidase)
2. Attachment and penetration of the zona pellucida
• Capacitation is crucial for attachment
• The acrosomal reaction is crucial for penetration and involves acrosin
3. Binding and fusion of the sperm and oocyte membranes
• The acrosomal reaction exposes membrane sites for fusion
• Sperm nucleus and centrosome enter the oocyte cytoplasm
4. Prevention of polyspermy
• The fast block involved short-lived oocyte membrane depolarization
• The slow block AKA zona reaction involves degranulation of cortical granules
• Alters structure of the zona pellucida
• Eliminates receptors for sperm on the zona pellucida
Fertilization is a series of events beginning with sperm penetration of
the corona radiata and concluding with the comingling of maternal and
paternal chromosomes to form the diploid zygote
5. Metabolic activation of the egg involving a rapid intensification of
respriration
6. Decondensation of the sperm nucleus/formation of the male
pronucleus
• Involves inactivation of protamines
7. Completion of meiosis II and formation of the female pronucleus
8. Fusion of the pronuclei, zygote formation and initiation of cleavage
Fertilization achieves a number of results
• Completion of meiosis II
• Restoration of the diploid chromosome number
• Determination of sex
• Initiation of cleavage
• Formation of a genetically unique zygote
24 hours following zygote formation it cleaves into 2
blastomeres. Over a number of days, division results in 16
compacted cells within the zona pellucida called the morula
• 4 days after fertilization cavitation
occurs within the morula to form a
blastocysts. The cavity formed in
termed the blastocoele.

• The blastocyst is contained within

the zona pellucida and includes an
outer cell mass peripherally and an
inner cell mass displaced to one
pole of the blastocyst by the
blastocoele
• The outer cell mass=trophoblast
• The inner cell mass=embryoblast
Blastocyst hatching (breakdown of the zona
pellucida) allows for firm attachment of the
embryo to the endometrium of the uterine
fundus 6-7 days following fertilization.
• Attachment of the blastocyst to endometrium is preceded
by trophoblast differentiation into cyto and
syncytiotrophoblast at the end of the first week

• Following attachment, syncytiotrophoblast cells penetrate

the endometrial epithelium and erode through its basal
lamina

• Syncytiotrophoblast invades, erodes and expands within

the endometrial stroma

• Subsequent implantation involves erosion of maternal

vasculature into spaces within the syncytiotrophoblast

• The embryo is fully implanted prior to the end of the

second week
• Surrounding endometrial and stromal cell accumulate
glycogen and lipids in a process called the decidua reaction
When more than one ovum is fertilized, or the inner cell mass divides early in
development, two embryos are formed in a process called twinning. Twinning is
monozygotic or dizygotic. Monozygotic twins may be conjoined.
When
implantation
occurs outside
the uterine
cavity, the
pregnancy is
termed as
being ectopic.
Contraception is a technique for the
prevention of successful fertilization
• Barrier methods

• Hormonal methods
• Pills
• COCP, Progesterone only, emergency contraceptive pills
• Injectables
• Implants

• Intrauterine devices
• Copper
• Hormonal

• Surgical methods
• Vasectomy
• Bilateral tubal ligation