Fertilization and further

development of the embryo

 What is ovum?

 Thesecondary oocyte
about finish its
Meiosis II.
 A single ejaculation of 3-5 ml
contains around 300 to 500 million
sperms!!
Out of these only ONE is required to
fertilize the ovum.
Then why so many???
 Mechanics of fertilization
 Coronal block
 Zona block
 Peri vitelline block
 (in addition to the pH differences in vagina
and cervix, preventing the entry of multiple
sperms).
 FERTILIZATION
 Defined as the fusion of male and female
gametes (haploid) resulting in a diploid
embryo.
 Life begins at fertilization.
 The secondary oocyte completes its
Meiosis II and becomes the Ovum(female
pronucleus).
 The sperm loses its tail and its head
becomes a male pronucleus.
 MECHANICS (CONTD)
 ZONA PELLUCIDA is opened by the
acrosomal enzymes from the successful
sperm.
 Zona becomes an impermeable barrier to
other sperms to prevent polyspermy.
 The male and female pronuclei immediately
position themselves for cell division.

Hence there is NO actual fusion of gametes

as seen in lower animals.

Fusion means mixing up of both nucleus

and cytoplasm of gametes.
There is no cytoplasm in the Sperm!!
 FERTILIZATION
 FERTILIZATION USUALY OCCURS IN
THE AMPULA OF THE UTERINE TUBE.
 More than two weeks after last normal
menstrual period (LNMP).
 Effects of Fertilization
 Diploid number is restored.
 Sex of the embryo(at genetic level) is
established.
 It’s the father who determines the sex of
the embryo (it all depends on whether x
bearing or y bearing sperm fertilizes the
ovum).
 Cleavage is initiated.
 Cleavage
 Once fertilization is over the conceptus
starts to divide continuously and this
process is called “Cleavage”
 (strictly speaking there is no zygote in
humans. It should be called a fertilized
ovum but who cares)?
 Cleavage
 The first two cells, if separated, can develop
into separate individuals (MZ twins).
 As it progresses to more cells this property
is lost.
 ALL OF US STARTED AS TWINS!!
 Morula
 When the cleaving embryo reaches 16-20 cell
stage it is called the MORULA.
 IT IS THE MORULA THAT ENTERS THE
UTERINE CAVITY STILL SURROUNDED BY
ZONA PELLUCIDA.
 By a week after fertilization Morula enters
 the uterine cavity.
 blastocyst
 Some cells in the morula die (apoptosis)
and give rise to a cavity.
 Cells which remain are pushed to one end
and this stage is called ‘blastocyst”.
 At the same time zona starts to dissolve to
“hatch” the blastocyst.
 blastocyst
 Has inner cell
mass and outer
cells called
trophoblast.
 Trophoblast is
highly phagocytic.
 To prevent this
property zona was
essential.
 What's happening in the
endometrium during this time?

Uterine glands enlarge.

Uterine vessels also enlarge
and become more tortuous.
In effect it is all set to
receive the embryo to
nourish it.
 Changes in outer wall of the
blastocyst
 Firstit is single layered (trophoblast)
 Then it divides into outer syncitio trophoblast
and inner cytotrophoblast.
 Syncitio trophoblast starts to eat its way into
endometrium and opens the uterine blood
vessels so that the entire blastocyst is bathed in
maternal blood.
 Gradually entire blastocyst goes into the entire
thickness of the endometrium.
 This process is called ‘implantation”.
 TRILAMINAR BLASTOCYST
In addition to outer syncitiotrophoblast
and inner cytotrophoblast, one more
layer (inner most) is formed and the
blastocyst becomes three layered
structure.
All these three layers are collectively
called the “CHORION”
(SYNCITIO+CYTO+
EXTRA EMBRYONIC MESODERM)
 Clinical aspects
 Tubal pregnancy.
 Ectopic
pregnancy.
 GIFT
 ICSI
 in vitro fertilization
 Freak incidences of fertilization
 One sperm fertilizes an empty ovum and
duplicates. The entire chromosomes are
paternal in origin. The placenta is formed in
this condition with no traces of embryo.
 Sometimes two sperms can fertilize each
other.
 These abnormal fertilization processes give
rise to a condition called “hydatidiform mole”
Placenta in molar pregnancy
 Contraception
 Condoms,diaphragms, CuT,
TUBECTOMY
 VASECTOMY.
 SPERMICIDAL VACCINE, CREAMS