FERTILIZATION — CONDENSED NOTES
Exam-focused summary based on the uploaded lecture document.
1. Definition & Purpose
• Fertilization = interaction between spermatozoon + oocyte.
• Key event: sperm penetrates oocyte cytoplasm.
• Restores diploid chromosome number (46).
• Initiates embryonic development.
2. Gametes
Spermatogenesis ≈ 74 days: spermatogonia → primary spermatocytes → secondary spermatocytes → spermatids →
spermatozoa.
Cell Chromosomes DNA
Spermatogonium 2n = 46 2c
Primary spermatocyte 2n = 46 4c
Secondary spermatocyte n = 23 2c
Spermatid n = 23 c
Spermatozoon n = 23 c
Sperm structure: Head = nucleus + acrosome; midpiece = centrioles + mitochondria; tail = 9+2 axoneme for motility.
3. Journey to the Oocyte
• Sperm travel through vagina → uterus → fallopian tube.
• Sperm can remain viable/fertilizable for up to ~5 days.
• Oocyte remains fertilizable for ~24 h after ovulation.
• Approximately 10■ sperm are reduced to ~10² around the oocyte.
Orientation: chemotaxis, thermotaxis (TRPV1), rheotaxis.
4. Capacitation ■
Capacitation = functional maturation of sperm in the female reproductive tract.
• Enables oocyte recognition/fusion and acrosome reaction.
• Removal of glycoproteins/cholesterol.
• ↑ HCO■■ → sAC → ↑ cAMP → PKA.
• CatSper opens → ↑ Ca²■ → hyperactivated motility.
CatSper: sperm-specific Ca²■ channel in the flagellum; required for hyperactivation and egg penetration.
5. Oocyte Barriers ■■■
1. Cumulus oophorus: follicular cells in hyaluronic-acid-rich matrix; crossed using flagellar movement + hyaluronidase.
2. Zona pellucida: glycoproteins ZP1–ZP4; involved in sperm recognition, acrosome reaction, polyspermy block and
embryo protection.
3. Oolemma: sperm–oocyte membrane fusion; key proteins include Izumo1, Juno and CD9.
Zona proteins: ZP1 = bridges; ZP2/ZP3 = initial sperm binding; ZP4 = assists acrosome reaction.
6. Acrosome Reaction ■■■
Triggered by sperm interaction with ZP2/ZP3 and other signals → CatSper/Ca²■ → sAC → cAMP → PKA → acrosomal
exocytosis.
Enzymes: acrosin (zona glycoprotein digestion), trypsin-like enzymes, hyaluronidase (cumulus penetration).
7. Sperm–Oocyte Fusion
Fertilization — Condensed Notes | Page 1
Sequence: Contact → Adhesion → Fusion.
Sperm contributes male DNA + proximal centriole. Sperm mitochondria are subsequently eliminated; embryonic
mitochondria are maternal.
Izumo1 ↔ Juno + CD9: Izumo1 is on sperm; Juno and CD9 are on the oocyte. CD9 is essential for membrane fusion.
8. Oocyte Activation ■■■
Immediately after fusion: hyperpolarization → depolarization → ↑ intracellular Ca²■ → cortical/zona reaction → resumption
of meiosis II.
Ca²■ mechanism: sperm PLCζ → PIP■ → IP■ + DAG → IP■ receptors on ER → massive Ca²■ release. Ca²■ rises in
repeated oscillations for ~1–2 h.
9. Block to Polyspermy ■■■
Fast block: rapid electrical change of the oolemma.
Slow block: cortical granule exocytosis → zona modification. ZP2/ZP3 are modified/cleaved, making the zona
non-adhesive and impenetrable. Juno is also shed/internalized.
10. Resumption of Meiosis II ■
Oocyte is arrested at metaphase II. ↑ Ca²■ → CaMKII → MOS degradation + Emi2 inactivation → APC activation → cyclin
B destruction → anaphase II.
Results: second polar body + female pronucleus.
11. Pronuclei & Zygote
• Sperm chromatin decondenses.
• Male and female pronuclei form after ~4–7 h.
• Zygote = first diploid cell.
• Sperm mainly contributes DNA + proximal centriole; oocyte provides most cytoplasm and organelles.
12. Chromosome / DNA States — High Yield
Stage Chromosomes DNA
Mature sperm 23 c
Oocyte before fertilization 23 2c
Male pronucleus 23 c
Female pronucleus 23 c
Zygote after pronuclear fusion 46 2c
Zygote after DNA replication 46 4c
13. Chromosomal Abnormalities
Euploid: normal diploid chromosome number (23 pairs).
Aneuploid: gain/loss of individual chromosome(s).
Polyploid: extra complete sets — triploid (3 sets) or tetraploid (4 sets).
14. Genomic Imprinting
Epigenetic phenomenon where expression depends on parental origin of an allele. Important in embryonic/extraembryonic
growth. Imprints are reset in germ cells for transmission to the next generation.
Angelman: loss of maternal contribution; UBE3A region; 15q11–q13.
Prader–Willi: loss of paternal contribution; SNORD116 region; 15q11–q13.
■ ULTRA-HIGH-YIELD SEQUENCE
Sperm transport → Capacitation → Cumulus penetration → Zona binding → Acrosome reaction → Zona
penetration → Oolemma adhesion → Membrane fusion → Oocyte activation → Ca²■ oscillations → Polyspermy
Fertilization — Condensed Notes | Page 2
block → Meiosis II completion → Pronuclei → Zygote → First mitosis
Key pathways:
Capacitation: HCO■■ → cAMP → PKA → CatSper/Ca²■
Acrosome reaction: ZP2/ZP3 → CatSper → Ca²■ → sAC → cAMP → PKA
Oocyte activation: PLCζ → IP■ → ER Ca²■ release
Meiosis resumption: Ca²■ → CaMKII → APC → cyclin B degradation
Fusion: Izumo1 ↔ Juno + CD9
Polyspermy block: electrical block + cortical/zona reaction
Source: uploaded lecture “Fertilization”, Prof. Alessandra Alteri.
Fertilization — Condensed Notes | Page 3