WMSU-ISMP-GU-002.

00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

Activity No. 2
OOGENESIS

In vertebrates, two different gametes, the spermatozoa and ova unite to form an
organism. The process of production and preparation of the cells is called gametogenesis.
There are four stages in gametogenesis:

1. Proliferation – continuous division to produce similar cells (gonia).

The gonia originate from the primordial germ cell (PGC).
2. Growth – mitosis ceases and the cells begin to grow in preparation
for meiosis.
3. Maturation (Meiosis I and II) – one chromosome replication but
two successive cell division resulting to reduction by one half of
the chromosome number.
4. Differentiation – the germ cells produced become functional
gametes.

A. Oogenesis in Frog

The frog ovary is a saccular and lobulated organ in front of the kidney. This yellow
finger-like structure are fat bodies. The mesovarium attaches the ovary to the back of the
coelom and it is continuous with the visceral peritoneum of the ovary. The part of the egg that
are darkly-stained is the animal pole and the one which contains the yolk is the vegetal pole.
The ovary of the immature frog is translucent. During hatching the ovary becomes very big
due to the great number of egg in it.
The female frog at reproductive age is usually bigger that the male, and no big
darkening phalanges. The frog ovary is derived from the genital ridge that enlarges and
become impregnated with primordial germ cells. At the time of hatching, the ovaries become
very large but shrink back after.
During ovulation, the first maturation takes place. The homologous chromosomes
separate and one set goes to the first polar body. The second maturation division happens
while the egg is entering the oviduct. If a sperm penetrates the egg, the second maturation
division continues. If not, the egg dies at metaphase II.

Objective
To examine the egg of Amphibians

Materials
Reference Book

Procedures:
1. In figure 1, draw and label the following structures:
a. Thecal externa – the outermost capsule that envelopes the ovary
b. Theca interna - inside the two capsule encasing the ovary and also envelops
the eggs except at the point of rupture at ovulation.
c. Oogonia – clusters of small blue- colored eggs
d. Growing egg follicle – made up of:
1. Primary oocyte – the egg inside the follicle

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a. Vegetal pole of the egg – the part of the egg having numerous
large yolk granule
b. Animal pole – the part with thin (translucent) cytoplasm where
the nucleus or germinal vesicle of the eggs about to ovulate can
be seen
2. Vitelline membrane – the egg membrane
3. Follicle cell – small cells between the egg vitelline membrane and
the theca interna
e. Ovarian stroma – the connective tissue with blood vessels and nerves

B. Oogenesis in Mammals

Even before sexual differentiation takes place in the embryo, the number of
primordial germ cells (PGC) that goes to the bipotential gonads increases. These PGC reach
the gonads and enter the stroma of the ovary as Pfluger’s tubes or ovigerous tubes. The PGC
will become oogonia and they will undergo the growth period to become the primary oocytes.
The ovary ovulates randomly. At any one instance, many ovarian follicles develop but not all
will ovulate. Most will degenerate.

Objectives:

1. To examine the structures of the human ovary

2. To study oogenesis in human

Materials:
Reference book

Procedure:

1. Draw the human ovary in figure 2 and locate the following structures;
a. Germinal epithelium – mesothelium of peritoneum that covers the ovary, it
plays no role in sex cell or gamete formation.
b. Milus – part of the ovary that attaches to the suspensor ligament and receives
blood vessels and lymphatics
c. Cortex – the outer part of the ovary
d. Medulla- central part of the ovary with many blood vessels and dense
connective tissue of the stroma
e. Tunica albuginea – connective tissue at the capsule below the germinal
epitheliuml
f. Egg follicle – egg surrounded by the epithelium of the follicles with varied
thickness and surrounded by the basement membrane.
g. Primary egg follicle – an oocyte surrounded by a layer of cuboidal epithelium
or several layers.
h. Secondary egg follicle – also called vesicular follicle or antral follicle
i. Zona pellucida – in between the oocyte and follicle cell and composed of a
kind of glycoprotein.
j. Theca folliculi – tissue that surrounds the egg follicle
1. Theca interna - cuboidal cells that produce androstenedione and contain
many blood vessels

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2. Theca externa – connective tissue surrounding the theca interna

k. Cumulus oophorus – cluster of cells in the antrum and containing oocytes
l. Mature (graafian) follicle – big preovulatory egg follicle in the embryo,
covered with a thin stratum granulosum.
m. Corona radiate – the granulose cells covering and attached to the zona
pellucid and goes with the oocyte during ovulation.
n. Atretic egg follicle – builds up because of the repression of the egg follicles;
evidenced by the following;
 Disorganized stratum granulosum
 Broken and scattered granulose cells
 Wrinkled oocyte
 Wavy appearance of the egg follicle
o. Interstitial gland – cluster of former theca interna cells after atresia of the egg
follicle; has a secretion of ovarian androgen
p. Corpus luteum – structure built by the luteinization of mature Graafian
follicle after ovulation.
1. Granulose lutein cell – lutein cell from stratum granulosum; at the middle
portion of corpus luteum
2. Theca lutein cell – lutein cell from theca interna; at the side of corpus
luteum.
3. Theca – the capsule of the corpus luteum form the theca externa of the
preovulatory egg follicle
q. Corpus albicans – thick scar of connective tissue produced by the regression
of the corpus luteum
r. Periovarial membrane – peritoneum tissue that envelops the ovary and
attached to the oviduct

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W O R K S H E E T
Activity No.2
Oogenesis

Group No:_________ Date performed:___________________

Members:___________________________ Date submitted:____________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

Draw and label the cross section of frog and mammalian ovary on the boxes below.

Fig.1 Frog Ovary, X.S

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Fig.2 Mammalian ovary, X.S

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Questions:
1. State the importance of oogenesis.

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2. Make a diagram of oogenesis. Start from a primordial germ cell (PGC) with six
chromosomes. Use two different color to distinguish the paternal and maternal
chromosomes.

Generalization:

References:

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