PROJECT REPORT ON
SPERMATOGENESI
S
Session-2023-24
Guided By:- Submitted By:-
Dr. SALIL SINGH ASHOK SHARMA
M.Sc. Zoology
(III-Semester)
School of Studies in Zoology &
Biotechnology
VIKRAM UNIVERSITY, UJJAIN
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that project report entitled “SPERMETOGENESIS”
which is being submitted by ASHOK SHARMA in partial fulfillment for the
requirement for the award the degree Master of Science in SCHOOL OF
STUDIES ZOOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY VIKRAM UNIVERSITY
UJJAIN. He worked under the guidance of Dr. SALIL SINGH and have
fulfilled requirement for the submission of the project.
Guide Signature
Dr. SALIL SINGH
(HOD)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my Guide
as well as our head of department Dr. SALIL SINGH, who gave me the
golden opportunity to this wonderful project on the topic
“SPERMETOGENESIS” which also helped me in doing a lot of research
and I came to know about so many new things. I am really thankful to
them.
I wish to express my best regards towards all my respected
teacher and supporting staff of Zoology department.
Date: ASHOK SHARMA
Place: Ujjain M.Sc. (Zoology)
III-Semester
CONTENT
INTRODUTION
FORMATION OF SPERMATIDS
SPERMIOGENESIS
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN SPERMATOGENSIS
REFERENCES
INTRODUTION
Mammalian spermatogenesis is a highly synchronized, regular, long and extremely
complex process ofcellular differentiation by which a spermatogonial “stem-cell” is
gradually transformed into a highly differentiated haploid cell
„Spermatozoon.”
This differentiation involves three distinct classes of germinal cells—the
spermatogonia, the spermatocytes,and the spermatids, which usually are arranged
in concentric layers in the seminiferous tubules.
In the adult mammals spermatogenesis is a continuous process, which can be
divided into two distinctphases and each characterized by specific morphological and
biochemical changes of nuclear and cytoplasmic components.
The two phases include:
(i) formation of spermatids (mitosis and meiosis) and
(ii) spermiogenesis.
FORMATION OF SPERMATIDS
This phase of spermatogenesis is further subdivided into three phases.
1. Multiplication phase:
This phase is also known as proliferation and renewal of spermatogonia. During this
phase the diploid spermatogonia which are situated at the periphery of the
seminiferous tubule, multiply mitotically to formspermatocytes and also to give rise to
new spermatogonia! stem cells and enter the phase of growth.
2. Growth phase:
During this phase, a limited growth of spermatogonia takes place; their volume
becomes double and they are now called primary spermatocytes which are still
diploid in number. Now these primary spermatocytesenter into the next phase
namely, maturation phase.
3. Maturation phase:
The primary spermatocyte enter into the prophase of meiotic or maturation division.
Meiotic prophase is avery complex process characterised by an ordered series of
chromosal rearrangements which are accompanied by molecular changes. During
meiosis, first nuclear DNA duplicates, each homologous chromosome starts pairing
(synapsis) and longitudinally spilts up into two chromatids, both of which remain
joined by a common centromere.
By chiasma formation mutual exchange of some chromosome material between two
non-sister chromatidsof each homologous pair (tetrad) occurs (crossing over) to
provide an almost indefinite variety of combinations of paternal and maternal genes
in any gamete.
Lastly, two chromosomes of each homologous pair (tetrad) migrate towards opposite
poles of the primary spermatocyte. Now each pole of primary spermatocyte has
haploid set of chromosomes. Each set of chromosome is surrounded by the nuclear
membrane developed from the endoplasmic reticulum. The firstmeiotic division, as a
rule, is followed by the division of cytoplasm (cytokinesis) which divides each
primaryspermatocyte into two haploid, secondary spermatocyte.
Each secondary spermatocyte undergoes second meiotic or maturation division
which is a simple mitosisand produces four haploid spermatids. These are non-
functional male gametes. To become functional spermatozoa, they have to undergo
a complex process of cytological and chemical transformations; a process usually
referred to as spermiogenesis.
SPERMIOGENESIS
The changes in the spermatids leading to the formation of spertmatozoa constitute
the process of spermiogenesis. Because a spermatozoon is a very active and mobile
cell, in order to provide real mobility toit, all the superfluous materials of the
developing spermatozoa are to be discarded and a high degree of specialization
takes place in the sperm cell through a number of steps.
During spermiogenesis two major parts of the sperm, the head and tail are formed by
the following process.
1. Formation of head:
The two major parts of sperm head i.e. the nucleus and acrosome, undergo the
following changes to form asperm head.
(a) Changes in the nucleus
During spermiogenesis, the nucleus of spermatid shrinks by losing much of its water
from the nuclear cap and the chromosomes become closely packed into a small
volume. Whole of ribonucleic acid is eliminated,leaving only the genetic material, the
deoxyribonucleo protein. Thus the material, which is not directly concerned with the
transformission of hereditary characters, is removed from the nucleu
(b) Golgi phase:
The young spermatid is round with a spherical nucleus. The Golgi apparatus
secretes glycoprotein rich granules which are stained with the periodic acid-Schiff
technique. These granules referred to as proacrosomic granules, fuse to form a
single large acrosomal granule attached to the nuclear membrane.
(c) Cap phase:
The acrosomal granule flattens on the nucleus of the spermatid to form the head
cap. The Golgi apparatuswhich secretes the acrosome separates from the head cap
and move towards the opposite pole. The Centrioles which are close to the nucleus,
on the side opposite the acrosonic cap develop a flagellum.
(d) Acrosome phase:
The definitive morphological contours of the acrosome become clearly defined. The
remaining part of the Golgi apparatus is gradually reduced and ultimately discarded
from the sperm as “Golgi -rest” along withsome cytoplasm.
2. Formation of the tail of the spermatozoon:
The Centrosome of a spermatid after the second meiotic division consists of two
Centrioles which have the structure of two cylindrical bodies, lying at right angle to
each other. During early stages of sperm metamorphosis, the two Centrioles move to
a position just behind the sperm, nucleus in the future neck region. A depression is
formed in the posterior surface of the nucleus and one of the two Centrioles
becomes placed in the depression with its axis approximately at right angles to the
main axis of the spermatozoon.
This is the proximal Centriole and the other centriol i.e. the distal Centriole takes up
a position behind theproximal one with its axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of
the spermatozoon. The distal Centriole now give rise to the axis filament of the
flagellum of the spermatozoon for which it serves as basal granule.
Most of the mitochondria of spermatids concentrate around the distal Centriole and
proximal (upper) partof the axial filament and form the neck and middle piece of the
tail of spermatozoon. In the middle piece ofthe sperm the mitochondria lose their
individuality by fusing to a greater or lesser extent. In mammals, the mitochondria
join in one continuous body which becomes twisted spirally around the proximal part
of the axial filament and the proximal Centriole.
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN SPERMATOGENSIS
A number of biochemical events occur during spermatogenesis (Monesi, 1970).
These are:
(1) The RNA synthesized during meiosis is eliminated from the nucleus during the
two meiotic divisions and remains in the cytoplasm. The fully formed
spermatozoon does not contain any detectable amounts ofRNA. The meiotic
RNA is probably associated with the synthesis of acrosomal proteins and
flagellum.
(2) Nuclear protein synthesis is arrested in the middle of spermiogenesis.
(3) All of the non-histone proteins in the nucleus are eliminated during
spermiogenesis.
(4) All the synthetic events occuring during spermiogenesis are probably regulated
by stable RNA producedduring the meiotic stages.
(5) The suppression of genetic activity in spermatids and spermatozoa may
depend on a regulatorymechanism which causes disappearance of activating
proteins and RNA from the chromosomes.
(6) The histone molecules associated with DNA may play a protective role by stablising
the DNA against changes occurring in their transport through the male and female
reproductive tracts (Taiwan et al, 1989).
CONTROL OF SPERMATOGENESIS
Spermatogenesis is either controlled environmentally or physiologically.
Temperature, light, hormones and psychological state play an important role
depending upon the organism. Pituitary gland plays an importantrole in regulating
spermatogenesis by secreting certain gonadotrophin hormones. But the pituitary
itself and the gonadal activities of birds, rodents, and many other vertebrates are
affected by the temperature, light and the length of the day.
REFERENCES
1. de Kretser, D. M.; Loveland, K. L.; Meinhardt, A.; Simorangkir, D.; Wreford, N.
(1998-04-01). "Spermatogenesis". Human Reproduction. 13 (suppl_1): 1–8.
2. Sharma S, Hanukoglu A, Hanukoglu I (2018). "Localization of epithelial
sodium channel (ENaC) and CFTR in the germinal epithelium of the testis,
Sertoli cells, and spermatozoa". Journal of Molecular Histology. 49 (2): 195–
208.
3. "The Spermatozoön, in Gray's Anatomy". Retrieved 2010-10-07.
4. Song, Ning; Liu, Jie; An, Shucai; Nishino, Tomoya; Hishikawa, Yoshitaka;
Koji, Takehiko (2011).
