Demi
Aleyssa
Meez
1. What
structural
and
biochemical
changes
does
the
spermatid
undergo
during
spermiogenesis?
How
do
these
changes
help
the
future
gamete
in
performing
its
role
in
fertilization?
Spermiogenesis
is
the
final
stage
of
spermatogenesis
which
sees
the
maturation
of
spermatids
into
mature,
motile
spermatozoa.
It
involves
four
phases:
the
Golgi
phase,
the
Cap
phase,
the
acrosomal
phase,
and
the
maturation
phase.
In
the
Golgi
phase,
the
spermatids
begin
to
develop
polarity.
The
head
develops
at
one
end
and
the
Golgi
apparatus
secretes
enzyme
that
will
eventually
become
the
acrosome.
At
the
other
end
of
the
cell,
a
thickened
mid- piece
is
developed.
This
is
where
the
mitochondria
gather
and
form
and
axoneme.
The
cap
phase
is
the
part
where
the
Golgi
apparatus
surrounds
the
condensed
nucleus,
thereby
becoming
the
acrosomal
cap.
In
the
Acrosomal
phase,
one
of
the
centrioles
of
the
cell
elongates
and
become
the
tail
of
the
sperm
cell.
A
temporary
structure,
the
manchette,
assists
in
this
elongation.
During
this
phase,
the
developing
spermatozoa
orient
themselves
in
such
a
way
that
their
tails
point
towards
the
center
of
the
lumen,
and
away
from
the
epithelium.
The
maturation
phase
is
the
last
phase
of
spermiogenesis.
In
this
phase,
excess
cytoplasm,
called
the
residual
bodies,
is
phagocytosed
by
the
surrpounding
Sertoli
cells
in
the
testes.
These
phases
are
followed
by
a
process
called
spermiation,
in
which
the
mature
spermatozoa
are
released
from
the
protective
Sertoli
cells
into
the
lumen
of
the
seminiferous
tubules.
This
process
then
removes
the
remaining
unnecessary
cytoplasm
and
organelles.
The
resulting
spermartozoa,
mature
and
immotile
are
sterile.
They
are
then
transported
into
the
epididymis
by
means
of
the
testicular
fluid
produced
by
the
Sertoli
cells
with
the
aid
of
peristaltic
contraction.
In
the
epididymis,
they
acquire
motility
but
the
release
of
the
mature
spermatozoa
is
only
achieved
through
muscle
contraction
rather
than
the
spermatozoas
acquired
motility.
2. What
does
the
acrosomal
cap
contain?
The
acrosomal
cap
contains
acrosome,
that
contains
digestive
enzymes,
including
hyaluronidase
and
acrosin.
These
enzymes
break
down
the
outer
membrane
of
the
ovum,
called
the
zona
pellucida,
allowing
the
haploid
nuclei
of
the
sperm
cell
to
join
with
the
haploid
nucleus
found
in
the
ova.
3. What
roles
do
the
Sertoli
cells
play
in
the
testis?
The
Sertoli
cell
is
a
nurse
cell
that
is
part
of
the
seminiferous
tubules.
It
acts
as
a
phagocyte,
consuming
the
residual
cytoplasm
during
spermiogenesis.
The
Sertoli
cells
secrete
anti-Mullerian
hormone,
inhibin
and
activins
(secreted
after
puberty
and
work
together
to
regulate
FSH
secretion,
androgen-binding
protein
(increases
testosterone
concentration
in
the
seminiferous
tubules
to
stimulate
spermiogenesis),
estradiol
(aromatase
that
converts
testosterone
to
17
-estradiol
to
direct
spermatogenesis,
glial
cell
line-derived
neurotrphic
factor
(GDNF,
promotes
undifferentiating
spermatogonia
that
ensures
stem
cell
self-renewal
during
the
perinatal
period),
the
Ets
related
molecule
(ERM
transcription
factor,
for
maintining
the
spermatogonial
stem
cell
in
the
adult
testis),
and
transferring
(blood
plasma
protein
for
the
delivery
of
iron
ions).