VETS2008: Repro > Spermatogenesis > Flashcards

Spermatogenesis Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

Spermatogenesis occurs in the

A

Seminiferous tubules

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2
Q

Sperm are produced via

A

Spermatogenesis

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3
Q

Spermatogenesis is a process that involves (3)

A

-mitosis
-meiosis
-differentiation

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4
Q

Developing germ cells form the

A

Seminiferous epithelium

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5
Q

____ support developing germ cells

A

Sertoli cells

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6
Q

The most immature germ cells are

A

Spermatogonia

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7
Q

Spermatogonia undergo ___ to become ___

A

Mitosis; spermatocytes

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8
Q

The tight junctions between Sertoli cells are called the

A

Blood testis barrier

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9
Q

Mitosis of sperm occurs in the __ compartment

A

Basal

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10
Q

Meiosis and differentiation (Spermiogenesis) occur in the __ compartment

A

Adluminal

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11
Q

Mitosis is creating

A

Genetically identical diploid (2n) cells

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12
Q

Meiosis is creating

A

Genetically diverse haploid (1n) cells

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13
Q

Spermatocytes undergo ___ to become ___

A

Meiosis I and II; primary and secondary spermatocytes

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14
Q

What is the importance of the blood testis barrier?

A

haploid cells (ie. spermatocytes) are “non self”, the barrier keeps the immune system from destroying them

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15
Q

What happens during meiosis to create genetic diversity?

A

Recombination (chromosome cross over)

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16
Q

Spermatids are produced by

A

Meiosis II

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17
Q

Round spermatids undergo ___ to become ___ which eventually become ___

A

Differentiation (spermiogenesis); elongated spermatids; spermatozoa

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18
Q

List all the steps of Spermatogenesis

A

Spermatogonia (undergo mitosis) —> Primary Spermatocytes (undergo meiosis I) —> Secondary Spermatocytes (undergo meiosis II) —> Round Spermatids (undergo differentiation/spermiogenesis) —> Elongated Spermatids —> Spermatozoa

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19
Q

Four unique differentiation (spermiogenesis) processes

A
  1. Golgi: forms acrosome vesicle
  2. Cap: spreads acrosome over nucleus
  3. Acrosomal (Tail Phase): nuclear/cytoplasmic elongation
  4. Maturation: cytoplasmic shedding, final structural assembly, Sertoli cell degradation
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20
Q

During spermiogenesis cells undergo the ___ to ___ transition, resulting in ___

A

Histone to protamine; very tightly packed DNA within the nucleus (ie. no transcription/translation can occur)

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21
Q

The transition from histone to protamine results in ___. Which means?

A

Chromatin Condensation: sperm DNA is inaccessible, they become non-functioning (transcriptionally silent) until fertilization

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22
Q

The head of the sperm contains (3)

A

-nucleus
-acrosome
-post-nuclear cap

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23
Q

The tail (flagellum) of the sperm contains (3)

A

-mid piece
-principal piece
-end (terminal) piece)

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24
Q

The nucleus of the sperm head contains ___ while the acrosome contains ___

A

-nucleus = DNA
-acrosome = hydrolytic enzymes to break into female’s egg

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25
The sperm mid piece contains (2)
-many spiralled mitochondria -made up of microtubules
26
The mid piece of sperm is critical for creating
Energy to drive sperm motility
27
Mitochondria of the sperm are located in the
Midepiece
28
Mitochondria of sperm use ___ and ___ to produce ___
Glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP
29
The sperm tail contains an
Axoneme = 9 microtubule pairs + 2 central fibres, surrounded by 9 outer dense fibres
30
The end piece of the sperm tail contains only
Microtubules
31
What germ cell type(s) would NOT be observed in the testes?
Round and elongated spermatids
32
How long does it take sperm to mature
1-2 months
33
How are sperm produced continuously if they take so long to mature?
Seminiferous tubules are divided into independently functioning regions
34
Each region of the seminiferous tubules will initiate ___ division at a ___
Spermatogonia (ie mitosis); at different times
35
Stages are a simple way of
Classifying groups of cells seen in a section of seminiferous tubules
36
Stage 1-8 =
One epithelium cycle
37
It takes ___ epithelium cycles for a Spermatogonia to become a mature sperm
4.5
38
The length of the epithelium cycles is the
Time between generations
39
Young generations of sperm are at the ___ while older generations are at the ___
Bottom (basal layer); top (adluminal) layer
40
Each stage of the epithelium cycles lasts for a predictable amount of time, but there is
Variation across species
41
The time it takes from Spermatogonia to sperm is ALWAYS
4.5 x length of epithelium cycle
42
Epithelial cycle of the bull is
13.5 days (4.5 x 13.5 = 61 days)
43
Epithelial cycle of the ram is
10.1 days (4.5 x 10.1 = 47 days)
44
Epithelial cycle of the stallion is
12.2 days (4.5 x 12.2 = 55 days)
45
Epithelial cycle of the boar is
8.3 days (4.5 x 8.3 = 39 days)
46
Epithelial cycle of the dog is
13.7 days (4.5 x 13.7 = 62 days)
47
Epithelial cycle of the Tom is
10.4 days (4.5 x 10.4 = 47 days)
48
The sequential ordering of stages of the epithelium cycles along a tubule are called
Spermatogenic waves
49
Sperm is released
Constantly
50
Daily sperm production depends on
Testis size, individual, and species
51
Measuring testis size in the stallion/boar is through
Scrotal width/length
52
Measuring testis size in the bull/ram is through
Scrotal circumference
53
7 factors that impact spermatogenesis
-breakdown of BTB (blood-testis barrier) -drugs -diet -disease -irradiation -endocrine disruption -excess heat
54
If the blood testis barrier is compromised, what happens?
Immune cells will attack developing sperm
55
Deficiencies in these 6 dietary needs can impact Spermatogenesis
-vitamin A -zinc -selenium -folate -essential fatty acids -some amino acids
56
Low levels of irradiation will
Wipe out most cell types and cause temporary arrest, but eventually can repopulate from Spermatogonial stem cells
57
High levels of irradiation will cause
Permanent infertility
58
The testis must be ___ degrees ___ body heat
4-6 degrees BELOW
59
Excess heat of the testis can be caused by (3)
-fever -cryptorochid -environment
60
Endocrine disrupters can either be ___ or ___
Estrogen-like or anti-androgenic
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