18.11.

2014

Gametogenesis

Dr. Archana Rani

Associate Professor
Department of Anatomy
KGMU UP, Lucknow
Gametogenesis
Gametogenesis
• Gametogenesis: formation
of gametes.

• Gametes develop in the

gonads (sex cells).

• In males, it is
spermatogenesis,
formation of sperm.

• In females, it is oogenesis,
formation of ova.
Spermatogenesis

• Process by which
spermatogonia
differentiate into mature
spermatozoa.

• Begins at puberty.

• Spermatozoa are formed

in the wall of seminiferous
tubules of the testes.
Stages in Spermatogenesis
• Many cells of different sizes
and shapes:
(a) Various cell stages in
spermatogenesis
(b) Sertoli (sustentacular)
cells
• Sertoli cells provide support
and nutrition to germ cells.
• Regulated by luteinising
hormone (LH).
• It binds to Leydig cells to
stimulate testosterone
production.
Primary
Spermiogenesis
spermatocyte

• The process of
Meiosis I
transformation of a
Secondary
spermatocytes
circular spermatid to
a spermatozoon is
Meiosis II
called
Spermatids
spermiogenesis.
• Golgi phase
Spermiogenesis
• Cap phase
Spermatozoa • Acrosomal phase
• Maturation phase
Spermatozoon
• An actively motile, free
swimming cell.
• Consists of a head, neck
and a tail (flagellum).
• Head: ovoid, consists of
nucleus. The anterior 2/3rd
of nucleus is covered by
acrosomal cap.
• Tail has 3 segments:
middle piece, principal
piece and end piece.
Oogenesis
• Occurs in the ovaries
and in the oviducts.
• Starts before birth.
• Ovary has cortex &
medulla.
• Oogonia are present in
cortex.
• Oogonia are produced
at a very early stage
(before birth) and do not
multiply thereafter.
Oogenesis
• After Telophase I and
II, the cytoplasm is
not equally divided.
• One of the new cells
gets the majority and
it survives, while the
other one, a polar
body, gets broken
down.
IMPORTANT TERMS
Gamete: egg or sperm

Gametogenesis: process of formation and development of gametes

Oogenesis: production of eggs

Spermatogenesis: production of sperms

Spermiogenesis: differentiation of sperm morphology

Follicle: where eggs mature in the ovary

Ovulation: release of egg from follicle

Polar body: nonfunctional product of meiotic divisions in oogenesis

Zygote: Fertilized egg

REFERENCES

1. Essentials of Anatomy for Dentistry

Students,1st Edition.

2. Langman’s Medical Embryology,11th

Edition.

3. Human Embryology, 5th Edition.

MCQ
• The supporting cells derived from the
surface epithelium of testis is-

1. Spermatogonia
2. Spermatocytes
3. Sertoli cells
4. Leydig cells
MCQ
• Spermatogenesis starts-

1. Before birth
2. After birth
3. At puberty
4. After puberty
MCQ
• Oogenesis starts-

1. Before birth
2. After birth
3. At puberty
4. After puberty
MCQ
• Oogonia undergo mitosis to form-

1. Primary oocyte
2. Secondary oocyte
3. First polar body
4. Second polar body
MCQ
• The process of spermatogenesis is
regulated by-

1.Testosterone
2. Luteinising hormone
3. Follicle-stimulating hormone
4. Testicular fluid
Gametogenesis (Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis)
An organism undergoes a series of changes throughout its life cycle. Gametogenesis
(spermatogenesis and oogenesis), plays a crucial role in humans to support the
continuance of generations.

Gametogenesis is the process of division of diploid cells to produce new haploid

cells. In humans, two different types of gametes are present. Male gametes are called
sperm and female gametes are called the ovum.

 Spermatogenesis: Sperm formation

 Oogenesis: Ovum formation

Difference between Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis

The major difference between spermatogenesis and oogenesis includes factors like the
process, occurrence, product formation after gametogenesis. The difference in the
process consists of the production of sperms from spermatogonium on the other side
the oogonium is used for the production of the ovum.

The occurrence of Spermatogenesis is found inside the seminiferous tubules of

a testis whereas oogenesis is present inside the ovary.

The product form in spermatogenesis is sperm which is motile and the product form in
an oogonium is ovum which is non-motile. Thus there is the structural and functional
difference between sperm and ovum.

Gametogenesis is the process in which the sperm and ovum are produced. This sperm
and ovum are also known as male and female gametes. This production of sperm and
ovum occurs inside the testis of the male and the ovary of the female.
Difference between Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis

Properties Spermatogenesis Oogenesis

The main feature

is the production The main feature is the
Definition of the sperms production of the
from ovum from oogenesis.
spermatogenesis.

Not all only the last

All the stages
stage of oogenesis
Stages take place in the
takes place in the
testis.
oviduct.

Spermatogenesis
Oogenesis is located in
Location is located in the
the ovary of females.
testis of males.

The growth phase The growth phase is

Growth
is short. extended.

Production Only one ovum is

rate The production released once a month.
of sperms is in
millions every
day.

The sperms are

The ova are released
Release released from the
from the ovary.
testis.

It takes place It takes place once per

Duration
every day. month.

The division is The division of the cell

equal and helps is unequal and helps in
Cell division in the formation the formation of one
of four haploid haploid ovum and two
spermatids. polar bodies.

No nuclear
Nuclear It takes place in
condensation is found
Condensation the sperms.
in the ovum.

The sperms are

Mortality The ova are nonmotile.
motile.
Spermatogenesis:

Spermatogenesis is the reproductive stage where the production of haploid sperms

takes place from “spermatogonium” in a male gonad, i.e. seminiferous tubules of a
testis.

Process
The process in spermatogenesis includes the following steps:

1. Spermatogonium first develops from the germinal epithelial lining of the

seminiferous tubules which are diploid stem-cell having totipotency.

2. It then goes through mitosis cell division and evolves into primary spermatocytes.
This process is known as “Spermatocytogenesis”.

3. This primary spermatocytes further goes through meiosis cell division-1 and
result in the formation of two secondary spermatocytes.

4. Now, this secondary spermatocytes experience meiosis cell division-2 and form
two spermatids which connect to the border of testis lumen through the
cytoplasmic bridges.

5. Spermatids are round in shape and non-motile cells that undergo maturation and
form motile, haploid sperms. This process of formation of sperms forms
spermatids refers to “Spermiogenesis”.
Facts

 The duration required for the formation of sperm from Spermatogonium is 70

days by spermatogenesis.

 A Spermatogonium forms four spermatozoa.

 One primary spermatocyte is responsible for the production of two secondary

spermatocytes.

 In humans the number of chromosomes is 46, due to no meiosis division in the

Spermatogonium, the chromosomal number will remain the same. But when
primary spermatocyte further goes through meiosis cell division 1 and 2, then the
chromosomal number becomes half i.e. 46 in the primary and 23 in the secondary
spermatocytes, spermatids, and sperms.
 In one ejaculation, 200-300 million sperms are produced. It consists of 60% non-
motile and 40% motile sperms.

 The normal range should be within 100million/ml of semen in a male. If there is

less count then the “Oligospermia” condition occurs which causes infertility.

Oogenesis

Oogenesis is the reproductive stage where the formation of haploid ovum occurs from
“Oogonium” in a female gonad, i.e. ovaries.

Process
The process in oogenesis includes the following steps:

1. Oogonium first develops from the germinal epithelium overlying the ovary
having a self-renewing capacity.

2. Oogonium then goes through mitosis cell division and differentiates into primary
oocytes.

3. This primary oocytes further goes through meiosis cell division-1 which seizes
at the diplotene stage in childhood. When puberty occurs this helps in the
formation of secondary oocyte and one polar body.

4. Secondary oocytes go through meiosis cell division-2 which stops at the

metaphase stage forms ootid.

5. When this ootid experiences the process of fertilization it produces the non-
motile, large and spherical ovum and second polar body that degenerates.
Facts

 An Oogonium forms a single ovum.

 One primary oocyte will produce one secondary oocyte and one polar body that
degenerates from the ovary.

 In humans the number of chromosomes is 46, due to no meiosis division in the

Oogonium, the chromosomal number will be the same. But when the primary
oocyte undergoes meiosis cell division 1 and 2, the chromosomal number
becomes half i.e. 46 in the primary oocyte and 23 in the secondary oocyte and
one polar body and ovum.

 In oogenesis, 7million primary oocytes forms in the ovary of a female fetus which
reverts to 2-4millions at the time of birth. After puberty, only 40,000 primary
oocytes left out and reverts to 480 after the division in a reproductive phase of
11-50 years in females.

Difference between Male and Female Gamete

The sperm and ovum can be distinguished in many ways like their structure, motility,
shape, size, etc.

Structure of sperm

 It consists of three parts head, neck, and tail.

Head: It consists of acrosome present at the tip and is produced by the Golgi body. It
contains an enzyme known as “Sperm lysins”. It conducts an essential role that enters
the ovum by digesting away its membrane. A non-condensed nucleus is also present
with no nucleoplasm.

Neck: It consists of a proximal centriole that is required for the first cleavage and a
Distal centriole which maintains the axial filament.

Middle piece: It comprises axial filament which consists of organized mitochondria.

These mitochondria are approximately 25 in number that provides energy for the
flagellar movement.

Tail: It is extended and motile surrounds by a flagellar sheath.

Sperm are smaller than most cells in the body; in fact, the volume of a sperm cell is
85,000 times less than that of the female gamete. Approximately 100 to 300 million sperm
are produced each day, whereas women typically ovulate only one oocyte per month. As
is true for most cells in the body, the structure of sperm cells speaks to their function.
Sperm have a distinctive head, mid-piece, and tail region (Figure 22.3.122.3.1). The
head of the sperm contains the extremely compact haploid nucleus with very little
cytoplasm. These qualities contribute to the overall small size of the sperm (the head is
only 5 μm long). A structure called the acrosome covers most of the head of the sperm
cell as a “cap” that is filled with lysosomal enzymes important for preparing sperm to
participate in fertilization. Tightly packed mitochondria fill the mid- piece of the sperm.
ATP produced by these mitochondria will power the flagellum, which extends from the
neck and the mid-piece through the tail of the sperm, enabling it to move the entire
sperm cell. The central strand of the flagellum, the axial filament, is formed from one
centriole inside the maturing sperm cell during the final stages of spermatogenesis.

Figure : Structure of Sperm Sperm cells are divided into a head, containing DNA; a mid-
piece, containing mitochondria; and a tail, providing motility. The acrosome is oval and

somewhat flattened. (CC-BY-4.0, OpenStax, Human Anatomy)

Structure of ovum

 It does not consist of a head, neck, and tail.

 A nucleus of an ovum is uncommon. In this nuclear condensation is present

where it is bloated with nucleoplasm and refers to germinal vesicles.

 Centrioles are absent in ovum.

 In the ovum, the mitochondria scatter in the cytoplasm.

 Ovum consists of little or no yolk.

 The size is larger than the oocytes.

 It consists of a large amount of cytoplasm.

 Ovum surrounds by two layers known as granulosa cells and zona pellucida.

Spermatogenesis and oogenesis are the reproductive phases that include the
following – multiplication, growth, maturation and differentiation. The
spermatogonium and oogonium multiply by mitosis to form spermatocytes and
oocytes. The spermatocytes eventually lead to the formation of spermatids – and it
contains only half of the genetic material present in the original primary
spermatocyte as a result of meiosis. Oocytes (germ cells) undergo mitosis and
maturation to form ootids that further differentiate to form ovum.

Spermatogenesis

In the male, immature germ cells are produced in the testes. At puberty, in males,
these immature germ cells or spermatogonia are converted into sperms by the
process of spermatogenesis. Spermatogonia are diploid cells that undergo mitotic
division and their number increases. Primary spermatocytes undergo meiosis and
produce haploid cells- secondary spermatocytes. These secondary spermatocytes
undergo the second meiotic division to produce immature sperms or spermatids.
These spermatids undergo spermiogenesis to transform into sperms.
Various hormones like GnRH, LH, FSH and androgens are involved in stimulating
spermatogenesis.

Oogenesis

In females, the oogonia are converted to the mature ovum. This process is called
oogenesis. In the female ovary, millions of oogonia or mother cells are formed
during fetal development. These mother cells undergo the meiotic cell division, the
meiotic division rests at the prophase-I and lead to the production of primary
oocytes. Primary oocytes are embedded within the primary follicles on the outer
layer. Primary follicles get surrounded by more granulosa cell layer and forms
secondary follicles. Secondary follicles then turn into the tertiary follicle. At the
stage of female puberty, the primary oocytes present in the tertiary follicles complete
meiosis and form secondary oocytes (haploid) and the polar body by unequal
division. The tertiary follicle undergoes some structural and functional changes and
produces mature Graafian follicle. Secondary oocyte undergoes second meiotic
division to form an ovum. Ovum is released from the Graafian follicle during the
menstrual cycle. The release of an ovum from the Graafian follicle is called
ovulation. Ovulation is controlled by the female reproductive hormone which is
stimulated by the pituitary gland.

Spermatogenesis and oogenesis are both forms of gametogenesis, in which a diploid

gamete cell produces haploid sperm and egg cells, respectively.

Key Points

 Gametogenesis, the production of sperm (spermatogenesis) and eggs

(oogenesis), takes place through the process of meiosis.
 In oogenesis, diploid oogonium go through mitosis until one develops into a
primary oocyte, which will begin the first meiotic division, but then arrest; it
will finish this division as it develops in the follicle, giving rise to a haploid
secondary oocyte and a smaller polar body.
 The secondary oocyte begins the second meiotic division and then arrests
again; it will not finish this division unless it is fertilized by a sperm; if this
occurs, a mature ovum and another polar body is produced.
 In spermatogenesis, diploid spermatogonia go through mitosis until they
begin to develop into gametes; eventually, one develops into a primary
spermatocyte that will go through the first meiotic division to form two
haploid secondary spermatocytes.
 The secondary spermatocytes will go through a second meiotic division to
each produce two spermatids; these cells will eventually develop flagella and
become mature sperm.

Key Terms

 spermatocyte: a male gametocyte, from which a spermatozoon develops

 oocyte: a cell that develops into an egg or ovum; a female gametocyte
 polar body: one of the small cells that are by-products of the meiosis that
forms an egg
 mitosis: the division of a cell nucleus in which the genome is copied and
separated into two identical halves. It is normally followed by cell division
 meiosis: cell division of a diploid cell into four haploid cells, which develop
to produce gametes

Gametogenesis (Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis)

Gametogenesis, the production of sperm and eggs, takes place through the process
of meiosis. During meiosis, two cell divisions separate the paired chromosomes in
the nucleus and then separate the chromatids that were made during an earlier stage
of the cell’s life cycle, resulting in gametes that each contain half the number of
chromosomes as the parent. The production of sperm is called spermatogenesis and
the production of eggs is called oogenesis.

Oogenesis

Oogenesis occurs in the outermost layers of the ovaries. As with sperm production,
oogenesis starts with a germ cell, called an oogonium (plural: oogonia), but this cell
undergoes mitosis to increase in number, eventually resulting in up to one to two
million cells in the embryo.

Figure : Oogenesis: The process of oogenesis occurs in the ovary’s outermost layer.
A primary oocyte begins the first meiotic division, but then arrests until later in life
when it will finish this division in a developing follicle. This results in a secondary
oocyte, which will complete meiosis if it is fertilized.

The cell starting meiosis is called a primary oocyte. This cell will begin the first
meiotic division, but be arrested in its progress in the first prophase stage. At the
time of birth, all future eggs are in the prophase stage. At adolescence, anterior
pituitary hormones cause the development of a number of follicles in an ovary. This
results in the primary oocyte finishing the first meiotic division. The cell divides
unequally, with most of the cellular material and organelles going to one cell, called
a secondary oocyte, and only one set of chromosomes and a small amount of
cytoplasm going to the other cell. This second cell is called a polar body and usually
dies. A secondary meiotic arrest occurs, this time at the metaphase II stage. At
ovulation, this secondary oocyte will be released and travel toward the uterus
through the oviduct. If the secondary oocyte is fertilized, the cell continues through
the meiosis II, completing meiosis, producing a second polar body and a fertilized
egg containing all 46 chromosomes of a human being, half of them coming from the
sperm.
Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis occurs in the wall of the seminiferous tubules, with stem cells at
the periphery of the tube and the spermatozoa at the lumen of the tube. Immediately
under the capsule of the tubule are diploid, undifferentiated cells. These stem cells,
called spermatogonia (singular: spermatagonium), go through mitosis with one
offspring going on to differentiate into a sperm cell, while the other gives rise to the
next generation of sperm.
Meiosis begins with a cell called a primary spermatocyte. At the end of the first
meiotic division, a haploid cell is produced called a secondary spermatocyte. This
haploid cell must go through another meiotic cell division. The cell produced at the
end of meiosis is called a spermatid. When it reaches the lumen of the tubule and
grows a flagellum (or “tail”), it is called a sperm cell. Four sperm result from each
primary spermatocyte that goes through meiosis.

Stem cells are deposited during gestation and are present at birth through the
beginning of adolescence, but in an inactive state. During adolescence, gonadotropic
hormones from the anterior pituitary cause the activation of these cells and the
production of viable sperm. This continues into old age.