Exercise 2

FERTILIZATION AND
MATURATION
Abigail A. Garcia, M.Sc.
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science
FERTILIZATION
 Direct interaction and fusion of two germinal
cells which results in initiation of cleavage,
gastrulation and species-specific development
processes that characterizes each organism

 A process in sexual reproduction that involves

the union of male (sperm) and female
(ovum) gametes (each with a
single, haploid set of chromosomes) to
produce a diploid zygote.
ASCARIS/ ASCARIS UTERUS
 Parasitic nematode in
intestine
 Sperm cells enter the
eggs in the genital tract
even before final stages
of oogenesis is completed
 Transparent eggs –
possible to study steps in
maturation, fertilization
and cleavage
 2N-4
 Oogonium (2N)
Growth / Maturation

Meiosis I
Primary Oocyte (2N)
Arrest at metaphase I
until stimulated by hormone

Meiosis II
First polar
ovulation Secondary Oocyte (N) body
Arrest at metaphase II

No Fertilization Fertilization

degeneration MII continues

Differentiation Second polar

Ootid (N) bodies
UNFERTILIZED EGG

 Absence of extensive
membranes observed in
fertilized eggs

 Vacuolated cytoplasm,
inconspicuos nuclei

 PRIMARY OOCYTE
MATURATION STAGES

Sperm Penetration Stage

Pronuclear Stage

Fusion Stage

Early Cleavage
SPERM PENETRATION STAGE
 Stage of Development:
PRIMARY
OOCYTE
 Characteristics:
 Presence of small, dense,
and triangular SPERM
HEAD
 After penetration, become
surrounded by a fertilization
membrane and thick outer
shell (chitinous shell)
 Meiosis II continues after
this stage
 To the right, Stage of
Development:
PRIMARY OOCYTE
-Sperm head transforming
-Female chromosomes at MD1
-Presence of fertilization membranes

To the left, Stage of

Development:
SECONDARY OOCYTE
-First polar body
-Sperm head
-Female chromosomes at MD2
MATURATION STAGES

Sperm Penetration Stage

Pronuclear Stage

Fusion Stage

Early Cleavage
PRONUCLEAR STAGE
 Oocyte has to
complete maturation
process
 Male pronucleus
appear as dense body
near the center of egg
 Presence of
perivitelline space
between egg and
fertilization
membrane
 Stage of Development:
OOTID
MATURATION STAGES

Sperm Penetration Stage

Pronuclear Stage

Fusion Stage

Early Cleavage
FUSION STAGE
 Male and female
pronuclei fuse
following migration
towards each other
 Presence of two
polar bodies; inner
2nd polar body and
outer 1st polar body
 Fusion of membranes
resulting in a diploid
zygote nucleus
 Stage of
Development: OVUM
MATURATION STAGES

Sperm Penetration Stage

Pronuclear Stage

Fusion Stage

Early Cleavage
EARLY CLEAVAGE STAGE
 Diploid
 Zygote
 Entire cell dividing (differentiate
Telophase from Fusion stage)
 Observable phases of mitosis
PROPHASE
METAPHASE
ANAPHASE
TELOPHASE
Exercise 2

FERTILIZATION AND
MATURATION
Abigail A. Garcia, M.Sc.
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science