Fertilization

Spermatozoa maturation steps

The maturation and activation of the
spermatozoa occur in the following
four steps:

• Storage in the epididymis  Maturation

• Ejaculation Activation
• Ascension to the ovary Capacitation
• Near the oocyte Acrosome reaction
 Composition of the seminal plasma

Amount 2-100 ml

pH value 7-8 (light alkaline buffer)

Seminal gland secretion 75% of the volume, alkaline fructose-

rich secretion (1.5-6.5 mg/ml fructose),
phosphorylcholine, ascorbic acid

Prostate secretion 20%-25% of the volume, biogenic

amine (spermidine, spermine), citric
acid, cholesterol, phospholipids,
protease to fluidize the ejaculate
(fibrinolysin, fibrinogenase)
Further components Phosphate and bicarbonate as buffer,
prostaglandin, hyaluronidase, cell
detritus from Sertoli's cells, cells from
preliminary stages of the
spermiogenesis, lymphocytes.
Human
COW
MARE SOW
Maturation of the oocyte in the dominant
follicle shortly before ovulation
Termination of the first meiosis
The secondary oocyte
The follicle that is about to rupture
Secondary oocyte in metaphase 2
The acquisition of the oocyte by
the fallopian tube
Consequences of multiple ovulation
• Twin pregnancy
• from one mating male
• Superfecundation: from two males, after synchrone
ovulation
• Superfoetation: from two males, after asynchrone
ovulation
Formation of a bilaminar germ disk
• In the bilaminar primordium of the embryo
(hypoblast or primary endoderm and epiblast)
one recognizes in the epithelium of the epiblast
a fluid-filled space, the first primordium of the
amniotic cavity.
•
Ventrally, the roof of the still incompletely
uncovered primary umbilical vesicle
(previously the blastocyst cavity) is formed by
the hypoblast.
 Develomental differences in early
embriogenesis
• A: Folding (Carnivores, Rodents,
Ungulate (hoofed animal)
• B: Exocoel formation (Primates, Human,
Insectivores)
1. Extra-embryonic mesoblast
2. Extra-embryonic reticulum
3. Primary umbilical vesicle
4. Cytotrophoblast
5. Lacunae in the reticulum
6. Hypoblast
7. Heuser´s membrane between hypoblast and mesoblast
cells
 Formation of the ‘Trilaminar germ disc’
AKA epithelio-mesenchymal transition

• Immigrated cells form a third germinal layer:

the intraembryonic mesoblast
• The mesoblast cells wander in all directions:
laterally, cranially and caudally.
• This middle germinal layer lies between the
definitive endoblast and epiblast.
• Exceptions are the cloacal membrane as well
as the pharyngeal membrane, where the
ectoderm and endoderm lie directly opposite
each other!