1. Germ Cells and Fertilization Lecture 30BSCI 420, 421Nov 11, 2002 “The final aim of all love intrigues, be they comic or tragic, is the composition of the next generation” - A. Schopenhauer 1.Sexual reproduction 2.Meiosis 3.Oogenesis 4.Spermatogenesis 5.Fertilization

2. 1.Sexual reproduction Has an advantage over asexual reproduction: Increases diversity by producing offspring that are a mixture of the traits of the parents. Is diversity an advantage? If so, Why is diversity an advantage?

3. 1.Meiosis A pair of nuclear divisions that produce four different haploid cells, usually but not always gametes. Gametes are haploid cells capable of fusing to produce A diploid cell called a Zygote. Gametes can be of identical size and shape (isogamy). Or they can be different in size and or shape (anisogamy).

4. Meiosisvs mitosis

5. 3. Oogenesis Is gamatogenesis of the larger gamete called the egg or ovum.

6. Oogenesis

7. Mammalian (rabbit) oocytes (fig 24)

8. 4. Spermatogenesis Spermatozoon is a small, highly streamlined cell, specialized to deliver a nucleus to an egg far away, and to activate development of the egg.

9. Spermatogenesis

10. 5. Fertilization Involves: a.Activation of the sperm and the acrosomal reaction b.Activation of the egg 1. The fast block to polyspermy 2. The slow block to polyspermy 3. Initiation of protein, RNA, & DNA synthesis 4. Fusion of the egg and sperm and male and female pronuclei

11. a. Activation of the sperm and the acrosome reaction

12. Activation of the sperm: Contact w Zona Pellucida Aggregates Receptors Opens Na+ Channels Release of V change opensExocytosis lytic enzymes VS Ca2+ Ca2+of Acrosomal Channelsinfluxvesicle Exposure of fertilins

13. b. Egg Activation: 1. Fast block to polyspermy Sperm binding to Egg cell membrane By fertilin and its receptor on egg Receptor linked Na+ channels open Na+ influx Membrane potential change 0 Fast block to polyspermy -70 1 2 (Discovered bymVtime, min E.E. Just contact Afro-Amer Dev.Biologist)

14. Starfish egg injected with the dye aequorin that fluoresces When the Ca2+ conc increases. At time 0, the egg was fertilized, and a wave of Ca2+ sweeps Over the egg in about 1 min. initiating cortical granule Exocytosis and the slow block to polyspermy.

15. Slow Block to polyspermy

16. 2. Slow block to polyspermy Binding of fertilin to receptor on egg Tyrosine kinase activation(both IP3 gated & Ca-Induced) Phospholipase C-  activation IP3Ca2+ release DAG production PKC activationCortical granule exocytosis Stimulation ofSlow block to 3.protein synpolyspermy RNA syn DNA synthesis

17. 4. Fusion of pronuclei (MTs green Fl-aT; DNA blue) Fig 35

18. The merging of mammalian pronuclei after fertilization