MED:1112

General Embryology

General Embryology

Oogenesis,
Ovulation, Fertilization and Implantation

Prof Dr.N.Jeyaseelan
Faculty of Medicine
SEGi University.

Learning outcome
At the end of this session, the student should be able to,
1.Explain oogenesis, ovulation and corpus luteum.
2.Describe the capacitation and acrosome reaction.
3. Define fertilization and discuss the three phases of fertilization.
4.Explain the results of fertilization.
5.Explain cleavage, inner cell mass, outer cell mass, blastocyst and
implantation.
6.Clinical correlates Discuss middle pain, infertility in females, in vitro
fertilization, test tube baby, Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT),
Ectopic pregnancy, tubal ligation.

Oogenesis

What is Oogenesis?
Oogenesis is the formation and development of
the ovum.
Primordial germ cells in the gonad of a genetic
female differentiate into oogonia (Fig.1).
These cells undergo mitotic divisions and some of
them differentiate into primary oocytes (Fig.1).

Fig.1 Differentiation of primordial germ cells into oogonia

 Primary oocytes give rise to secondary oocyte

and 1st polar body (Fig.2).

The secondary oocyte divides to give rise to

one mature oocyte and one polar body (Fig.2,3).
1st polar body divides to give rise to two polar
bodies (Fig.2).

Fig. 2

A Primary oocyte produces only one mature gamete.

Fig.3

Maturation of the oocyte

Ovulation
Ovulation is the discharge of the oocyte from the
ovary (Fig.3).

The oocyte is discharged with its cumulus

oophorus cells (Fig 4).
At this stage the 1st meiotic division is completed
and the secondary oocyte has started its 2nd meiotic
division .

Fig. 4

Ovulation

Note the relationship of fimbriae of uterine tube during ovulation

 Primary oocytes remain in prophase and

do not finish their first meiotic division
before puberty is reached.
With the onset of puberty the primordial
follicles develop into mature follicles and
the primary oocytes complete their first
meiotic division.

What is puberty?
Puberty is the sequence of events by which a
child is transformed into young adult.
Gametogenesis (in males) oogenesis (in
females) begin as well as secretion of gonadal
hormones.
Growth of secondary sexual characters and
development of reproductive functions.

Ages of presumptive puberty

12 years in girls
14 years in boys

 Immediately preceding ovulation the

Graafian follicle increases rapidly in size.

This increase in size is under the influence
of FSH and LH.

Under the influence of FSH the primordial

follicle matures into the Graafian follicle (Fig. 5).

Fig.5

Primordial follicle (A) matures into the Graafian follicle (C)

The oocyte remains a primary oocyte

until shortly before ovulation.

During ovulation the fimbriae of the

ovary sweep over the rupturing follicle
collecting the oocyte and guiding it into
the uterine tube (Fig.4).

Corpus luteum

Following ovulation remaining granulosa cells in

the wall of the ruptured follicle alongwith the cells
from the theca interna (Fig.6) are getting vascularised
and become polyhedral.

Under the influence of the luteinizing hormone

these cells develop a yellow pigment and change into

luteal cells.
These luteal cells form the corpus luteum.
Corpus luteum secrete progesterone.

Fig.6

A Graafian follicle just before rupture

B- Ovulation
C The Corpus luteum

Transport of oocyte

Once the oocyte is in the uterine tube it is

pushed toward the lumen of the uterus by
contractions of the muscular wall .
Fertilized oocyte reaches the uterine lumen in
approximately 3 4 days (Fig.7).

Fig.7

A Ovary

B Uterine tube
(Fallopian tube)
C Uterine lumen

D - Vagina

Parts of female genital system

Fertilization

It is a process by which male and female

gametes fuse.
It occurs in the ampulla of the uterine tube.

Ampulla is the widest part of the uterine tube

(Fig.8).

Fig. 8

Uterine tube

Note the ampulla of uterine tube

 Spermatozoa and the oocyte remain viable in

the female reproductive tract for approximately
24 hours.
The ascent of spermatozoa in the female

genital tract is caused by the contractions of the

musculature of the uterus and uterine tube.

For fertilising the oocyte the spermatozoa must

undergo,
1. Capacitation.

2. Acrosome reaction.

1. Capacitation
It is a period of conditioning in the female
reproductive tract that lasts approximately 7
hours.
During this time a glycoprotein coat and
seminal plasma proteins are removed from
the plasma membrane that overlies the
acrosomal region of spermatozoa.
Only capacitated sperm can pass through the
corona cells and undergo acrosome reaction.

2 .Acrosome reaction
This reaction culminates in the release of enzymes
needed to penetrate the zona pellucida.

The three phases of fertilization include,

1. Penetration of corona radiata.

2. Penetration of zona pellucida.
3. Fusion of oocyte and sperm cell membranes.

1. Penetration of corona radiata (Fig.9).

200 300 million spermatozoa are deposited in the

female genital tract .

Only 300 500 reach the fertilization site.

Only one is needed for fertilization.

2. Penetration of zona pellucida (Fig.9).

Release of acrosomal enzymes allows the sperm
to penetrate the zona.

Only one spermatozoa seems to be able to

penetrate the oocyte (Fig.10).

3. Fusion of oocyte and sperm cell membranes

Once a sperm has entered the oocyte, the

oocyte membrane becomes impenetrable to

other spermatozoa thereby preventing
polyspermy.

Fig. 9

Three phases of oocyte penetration

Fig.10

Stages from ovulation to two-cell stage.

 The oocyte finishes its 2nd meiotic division

immediately after entry of the spermatozoon.
Its chromosomes 22 + X become arranged in a

vesicular nucleus known as the female pronucleus

(Fig.10).

Meanwhile the spermatozoon moves forward

until it lies in close proximity to the female
pronucleus.
Its nucleus becomes swollen and forms the
male pronucleus (Fig.10).

The results of fertilization are,

1. Restoration of diploid number of
chromosomes, half from the father and half
from the mother.
2. Determination of the sex of the new
individual.
3 . Initiation of cleavage.

Cleavage
Once the zygote has reached a two-cell stage it

undergoes a series of mitotic divisions.

This results in an increase in cell number.

Blastomeres
The cells which become smaller with each

cleavage division are known as Blastomeres.

Approximately 3 days after fertilization the cells

divide again to form a 16 - cell Morula (Fig 11).

Fig. 11 Development of zygote from two-cell stage to Morula stage.

Inner cells of the Morula constitute the Inner cell

mass while the surrounding cells compose the outer
cell mass (Fig.12).

The inner cell mass give rise to the tissues of the

embryo proper .
The outer cell mass forms the trophoblast which

contributes to the placenta.

Fig.12

Human blastocyst showing inner cell mass & trophoblast cells

Blastocyst
By the time the morula enters the uterine

cavity the intercellular spaces become confluent

and a single cavity the blastocele is formed.
At this time the embryo is known as the

blastocyst (Fig.12).
The cells of the inner cell mass is now referred

as the embryoblast while those of the outer cell

mass is the trophoblast (Fig.12).

Implantation
Attachment of the fertilized ovum (blastocyst)
to the endometrium of uterus and its subsequent
embedding in the compact layer.
It occurs six or seven days after fertilization of
the ovum.

 At the time of implantation the mucosa of the

uterus is in secretory phase (Fig.13).

Three layers in the uterine endometrium can be
recognised . Compact layer (superficial) spongy
layer (intermediate) and a basal layer.

At the eighth day of development, the blastocyst

is partially embedded in the endometrial stroma
(Fig.13).

Fig.13

Events taking place during1stweekof development

Clinical Correlates
1. In some women, ovulation is accompanied by slight
pain, known as middle pain and this event
normally occurs near the middle of the menstrual
cycle.
2. Ovulation is generally accompanied by a rise in basal
temperature, an event that can be monitored in
determining when release of the oocyte occurs.
3. Some women fail to ovulate due to diminished
concentration of gonadotropin.
4. Fertilization can be prevented by a variety of
contraceptive methods.

5. Infertility in females may be due to number of

causes including occluded oviducts and absence of
ovulation.
Infertility is the inability of a couple to become

pregnant after 1 year of unprotected sexual

intercourse using no birth control methods.

6. In vitro fertilization (IVF).

IVF a mans sperm and a womans egg are
combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization
occurs.
The resulting embryo is then transferred to the

womans uterus to implant and develop naturally.

The term Test tube baby is often used to refer

to children conceived with this technique.

Worlds first test tube baby

(Louise Brown)

7. Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)

This technique is introducing oocytes and
sperm into the ampulla of the fallopian tube
where fertilization takes place (Fig.14).

Fig. 14

Gamete intrafallopian transfer

8. Ectopic pregnancy
Implantation and growth of the fertilised ovum

may occur outside the uterine cavity in the wall of

the fallopian tube (Fig.15).
Tubal abortion or rupture of the tube, with

effusion of a large quantity of blood into the

peritoneal cavity, is the common result.

Fig 15.

Ectopic Pregnancy

9. Tubal ligation
Ligation and division of the uterine tubes is a

method of obtaining permanent birth control

(Fig.16).

Fig. 16

Tubal ligation

Reference Book
1. Langman's Medical Embryology 12th ed. - T.
Sadler (Lippincott, 2012).