Omne vivum ex ovo All living

things come from eggs.

William Harvery, 1651

Gametogenesis
This lecture is the preface, so to speak, to embryology; that is, it introduces
the development of the specialized germ line of cells from the male and the
female that are responsible for the beginnings of a new life form. You will
follow the presumptive gametic cells through the development processes that
give rise to the special haploid spermatozoon (sperm) and ooctye (egg) of the
male and female, respectively. After this lecture you should be able to:
Outline and illustrate the stages of spermatogenesis the origin and
development of the spermatozoon.
Outline and illustrate the stages of oogenesis the origin and
development of the oocyte.
Describe the structural and functional differences between the male
and female gametes.

7
Gametogenesis
The formation of germ cells

You should understand the stages of meiosis and how it differs from mitosis. I assume you have covered this in general
biology courses. If you have not you should review it in your textbook as we wont focus on the basic tenets of meiosis
in lecture. Gametogenesis is the process of giving rise to the specialized generative cells called gametes and meiosis is
at the core of this process. The key features of gametogenesis are: 1) reduction of the chromosome number (in half), 2)
alteration of the cell cytoplasm, and 3) modifications of the cells structure (shape).

Spermatogenesis
Development of the male gamete

This process is the series of developmental events that alters the presumptive
male gamete, the spermatogonium into a mature spermatozoon. This process
takes place within the epithelial lining of the seminiferous tubules of the testis.

Epithelial lining of the seminiferous tubules

Cells
Sertoli cells

Blood-testis barrier

Spermatogonia line of cells

Relation to sertoli cells

Interstitial cells of testis

Leydig cells

Developmental stages of spermatogonia

Primordial germ cell

E m b r y o l o g y L e c t u r e M a n u a l
8
 G a m e t o g e n e s i s

Spermatogonia - type A

Spermtogonia - type B

Ploidy

N number

Primary spermatocyte
Ploidy

N number

First meiotic division

Secondary spermatocytes
Ploidy

N number

Second meiotic division

Spermatids
Ploidy

N number

Spermiogenesis

Mature spermatozoan (sperm)

Ploidy

N number

9
Anatomy of the Mature Spermatozoan (Sperm)
2.5 - 3.5 m
Propulsion system to move the haploid nucleus

Basic structure
Head

4.0 - 5.0 m
Nucleus

Acrosome

5.0 - 7.0 m
Neck

Middle piece
Mitochondria
0.5 m

45.0 m
Tail
Principal piece

End piece

Size

Function
5.0 - 7.0 m

E m b r y o l o g y L e c t u r e M a n u a l
10
 G a m e t o g e n e s i s

Oogenesis
Development of the female gamete

This process is the series of developmental events that alters the presumptive
female gamete, the oogonium into a mature oocyte. This process takes place
within the confines of the ovary.

Developmental stages
Primordial germ cell and oogonia
Investing cells

Mitotic division

Primary oocyte and primary follicle

Numbers
7 million by end of 5th month in utero

700,000 to 2 million at birth

400,000 at puberty

Follicle cells

Zona pellucida

Oocyte
Ploidy

N number

Primary oocyte and growing follicle

Ovarian cycle beginning at puberty
5 to 12 each cycle

Follicle cells

Oocyte
Ploidy

N number

11
Primary oocyte and antral follicle
Follicular atresia
Half of the follicles die

Primary oocyte and mature (graafian) follicle

Follicular atresia

Cumuls oophorus

Theca interna or membrana granulosa

Oocyte
Ploidy

N number

First meiotic division completed and polar body

Secondary oocyte and mature graafian follicle

Oocyte
Ploidy

N number

First polar body

Changes within follicle prior to ovulation

Stigma

E m b r y o l o g y L e c t u r e M a n u a l
12
 G a m e t o g e n e s i s

Ovulation
Keys to ovulation

Secondary oocyte surrounded by corona radiata and zona pellucida

Location after ovulation

What happens after ovulation

Fertilization and completion of second meiotic division

Where

How

Two more polar bodies

Fertilized oocyte
Ploidy

N number

13
Anatomy of the Fertilized Oocyte
The nourishing gamete

Basic structure
Nucleus

Cytoplasmic storehouse
Proteins

RNAs

100.0 m

Protective chemicals

Morphogenetic factors

Cortical granules

Surrounding cells and substances

Zona pellucida or vitelline envelope

Corona radiata - follicular cells

Size

Function

E m b r y o l o g y L e c t u r e M a n u a l
14
 G a m e t o g e n e s i s

Comparison of Spermatozoa and Oocytes

Genetic differences
Sex chromosomes

Size differences
Ctyoplasmic comparisons

Functional role of the egg cytoplasm

Yolk
Purpose of yolk

Yolk classification
Miolecithal

Medialecithal

Megalecithal

Yolk distribution
Isolecithal

Centrolecithal

Telolecithal

Associated cells

Numbers

Activity levels motility

15
Comparisons of Gametogenesis
Remember, it is important to differentiate between the ploidy of a cell and its N number. The ploidy refers to the
number of copies of each chromosome in the cell. The N number refers to the number of copies of each unique double-
stranded DNA molecule in the cell. In the review of male and female gametogenesis below, you should be able to list the
ploidy and N number for each stage in the processes.

Spermatogenesis Oogenesis

Primary oocyte
Spermatogonium in primary follicle

Primary oocyte
Primary spermatocyte in growing follicle

Primary oocyte
in large follicle

Secondary spermatocyte

Spermatids

Secondary oocyte
in mature follicle

Fertilized oocyte

Mature sperm

E m b r y o l o g y L e c t u r e M a n u a l
16