Spermatogenesis, Sperm &

Semen

Dr. Ashok Sahai

Former Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy,
King George’s Medical University, UP, Lucknow, India
Email: ashoksahai@yahoo.co.in
Mob: 09415395113 / 09634331084
Male pelvis with testis
Testis in LS and Histology
Seminiferous tubules in TS
Sertoli cell and germ cells
Spermatogenesis:
Is defined as the cellular
events in testis which lead to
the formation of male
gametes-- SPERMS.

Occurs in the testis which is a

part of male reproductive
organs.
Sperms in Light microscopy
 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
 In each seminiferous tubule, at any given time, the epithelium is at
different stages of spermatogenesis. This cycle, the spermatogenic
cycle, is completed in 22.5 to 23 days.

 One cycle is not sufficient for completion of spermatogenesis.

Instead, it takes 2.5 to 3 cycles; means 72 to 75 days for
the spermatogonia to form sperm.s

 While Oogenesis occurs in structural isolation, all the

cells in spermatogenesis are
interconnected and form a syncytium.
 Spermatogenesis at a glance
Stages
 Primordial Germ Cells

 Spermatogonia

 Primary Spermatocyte

 Secondary Spermatocyte

 Spermatid

 Sperm
Spermatogenesis
The number of chromosome is Diploid (44 XY) in
 Spermatogonia
 Primary spermatocyte

The number becomes Haploid (22Y or 22X) in

 Secondary Spermatocyte
 Spermatid
 Sperm
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia (Spg) (2N)

 4 to 7 generations are
formed by mitosis.

 Adjacent
spermatogonia
form syncytium.

 Spermatogonia–A (Spg-A)
are initially formed.
Spermatogenesis
 Spg-A are of Two types
 Dark type-A
 Light type-A

 Dark type-A are less mature

and further divide to form
Type-A (Dark) & Type –A
(Light) by mitosis.

 Light type –A are more

mature and ready to divide
to form Spg-Type-B.
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia type-B (2N)
 divide to form two Primary

Spermatocytes.

Primary Spermatocyte (2N)

 take about 20 to 22 days to form
two Secondary Spermatocytes (N).

 Reason- stores nutrients to undergo 1st

meiotic division which is a reduction
division since the reduction division
requires a lot of energy.
Spermiogenesis
Secondary Spermatocyte (N)
 Picture of undergoes 2ndmeiotic
transformation division to form 2
Spermatids (N).

Spermatid transforms into a

Sperm (N) – process is
known as Spermiogenesis or
Spermateliosis.

One spermatid one

Sperm
Diagrammatic representation
of spermiogenesis
Spermatid Sperm
Nucleus Head
Golgi
Apparatus Acrosomal Cap
Mitochondria Body
Centriole-
Proximal Basal Body
Centriole-
Distal Annulus
Cytoplasm Cytoplasm
Microfilamen Tail
ts
 Sperms
in LM and in computer animation
Sperm - parts
Parts of SPERM
 Head
 Neck
 Body
 Tail – principal
piece
- end
piece

Head:
 Acrosomal cap
 Nucleus
 Cytoplasm
Sperm - parts
Neck: Annulus:
 Constriction distal to the  Distal to the mid piece .
head. Also called the  Also called Jenseng’s ring.
connecting piece.
 Has Basal Body.
Tail or principal piece:
Body (Mid piece): swollen Two parts.
part  Proximal: Principal piece.
behind the neck. Consists of  Distal: End piece.
 Cell membrane
 Cytoplasm
 Mitochondrial sheath
 Axial or axinome filament.
Sperm – two types
Androsperm 50% of total no.
 Chromosomes - 22 Y
 Smaller in size
 Shorter life span
 Faster to swim
 Less resistant to vaginal pH
 Alkaline medium – activity
and life increases.
 Responsible for male child
Gynosperm 50% of total no.
 Chromosomes - 22 X
 Bigger in size
 Longer life span
 Slow to swim
 More resistant to vaginal pH
 Alkaline medium – activity
and life increases.
 Responsible for female
child
 Sperm
Newly formed Sperms Sperms attain
 Non motile Maturity – from epididymis to
 Immature ampulla of Vas.
 Can not fertilize
Motility – ampulla of Vas to
To be able to fertilize the Sperm vagina.
should acquire
 Motility Capacitation – in uterus and
 Maturity uterine.
 Capacitation Acrosomal reaction - tube.in
uterine tube and corona
 Undergo Acrosome reaction radiata.
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
Sperm transport in male
Reproductive tract
Semen in Petri dish and in LM
Semen – Male ejaculate
 Highly viscous –dull white colour.  Out of 90% Fluid
 pH 7.2 to 7.6. - 60% seminal fluid
 2 to 6 ml at one time. - 30% prostatic secretions
 Composition - 10% bulbo urethral gland
 - sperms 10% secretions
 - fluid 90%  Shape: 75 – 80% are
 Sperms – 100 million / ml normal
or 350 million per ejaculate.  Motility: 75% are motile.
 Out of 10% sperms More than 40% should be
motile after 2 hours.
- 5% androsperms
 Movement:
- 5% gynosperms
0.5 mm per min in Vagina
2-3 mm / min. in uterus