Term
| what are the necessary aspects of an egg? |
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Definition
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perivitelline space, zona pellucida, 1rst polar body, metaphase II spindle, cumulus oophoros, corona radiata
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Term
| How does the oocyte complete maturation and ovulation? |
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Definition
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Resumption of meiosis begins within the ovarian follicle in response to the LH surge,
Expansion of the cumulus oophorus
Due to secretion of hyaluronic acid by the cumulus cells,
Extrusion of the first polar body,
Formation of the metaphase II spindle,
Ovulation of metaphase II-arrested egg,
fertalization or death
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Term
| How does the sperm mature? |
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Definition
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Begins within the epididymis;
Sperm surface acquires new proteins from epididymal secretions;
Gradual development of progressive motility during sperm transit from caput to corpus to cauda epididymis;
Transit time for sperm in the human epididymis is ~80-90 days
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Term
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Definition
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Development of the “capacity” to fertilize an egg
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Term
| where does C normally occur? |
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Definition
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Normally occurs within the female reproductive tract: endocervix, uterus, Fallopian tube
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Term
| what changes occur during C? |
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Definition
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Involves many changes in the sperm:
Loss of cholesterol from sperm plasma membrane ;
Changes in the surface charge of proteins;
Movements of sperm surface proteins and lipids;
Changes in ion conductance;
Changes in phosphorylation of sperm proteins;
Development of hyperactivated motility
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Term
| what are the 2 sperm enzymes involved in capacitation? |
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Definition
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Two sperm enzymes are involved in capacitation:
“soluble” adenylyl cyclase (sAC) - activated by bicarbonate and calcium,
Protein kinase A (PKA; cAMP-dependent protein kinase)
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Term
| what is the sperm's path to the egg? |
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Definition
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Ectocervix;
Endocervix;
Uterine cavity;
Fallopian tube
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Term
| must sperm be hyperactivated? |
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Definition
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Term
| what are the 5 steps to fertalization? |
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Definition
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1. arrival, 2. specific binding, 3. induction of acrosome reaction, 4. ZP penetration, 5. membrane recognition and Egg Activation.
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Term
| what is the penetration of cumulus cell layer? |
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Definition
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Assisted by hyaluronidase activity associated with the sperm head
Assisted by sperm motility
May be a “group effort” - many sperm providing enzyme activity to help each other dissolve the hyaluronic acid matrix
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Term
| what is the sperm-ZP interaction? |
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Definition
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Initiated by binding of an unidentified sperm surface receptor to carbohydrate residues expressed on the zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins
Binding to the ZP causes the induction of acrosomal exocytosis
Secondary binding of the inner acrosomal membrane to the ZP occurs after acrosomal exocytosis
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Term
| what is acrosomal exocytosis? |
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Definition
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Complex receptor-mediated signaling event that results in calcium release within the sperm
Fusion of sperm plasma membrane with the outer acrosomal membrane
Release of acrosomal contents that include enzymes that help to digest the ZP
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Term
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Definition
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ZP3 binds a sperm surface receptor (R) and produces two separate intracellular signals
1. Activation of a cation channel (C) produces a depolarizing current which causes activation of a T-type Ca2+ channel (T)
2. ZP3 activates a pH regulator via Gi-class G proteins (G), resulting in a transient alkalinization of internal pH.
Transient Ca2+ and pH elevations synergistically promote a sustained Ca2+ elevation, leading to acrosomal exocytosis
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Term
| what is penetration of the ZP? |
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Definition
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Requires motile force generated by flagellar movement
Requires enzymatic hydrolysis by acrosomal proteases linked to the inner acrosomal matrix
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) releases GPI-linked proteins from the sperm surface and inner acrosomal matrix
TESP5 - testis serine protease 5
PH-20 - hyaluronidase
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Term
| what is sperm-egg plasma membrane binding? |
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Definition
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Sperm components: Izumo***, Cyritestin, CRISP1, Fertilin (?)
Egg components: CD9***, GPI-linked protein(s), integrin (?)
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Term
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Definition
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the process by which the sperm and egg interacting together become a 2-cell embryo capable of full term development. Egg activation begins with sperm-egg plasma membrane interactions.
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Term
| what are egg activation events? |
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Definition
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Increase in intracellular calcium followed by repetitive calcium oscillations
Cortical granule exocytosis
Zona pellucida block to polyspermy
Sperm head decondensation
Resumption of the cell cycle
Completion of meiosis with 2nd polar body emission
Formation of male and female pronuclei
Cleavage to the 2-cell stage
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Term
| what happens during Fertilization-induced calcium oscillations? |
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Definition
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A hallmark of the initiation of egg activation in all mammalian species (calcium changes occur in all species)
, Calcium release is triggered by phospholipase C (PLC) activity
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Term
| what does Cortical granule exocytosis results in? |
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Definition
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the zona pellucida block to polyspermy
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Term
| what are the biochemical changes to the block of polyspermy? |
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Definition
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ZP3 will no longer bind sperm or induce acrosomal exocytosis
ZP2 is proteolytically cleaved and will no longer bind acrosome-reacted sperm
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