Department of Biology and Microbiology, “Molecular and Cell Biology”

Name Group

Subhaan 2

Surname Date

Chaudhry 03.05.23

PROTOCOL No. 4
GAMETOGENESIS (microscopic slides)
TASKS AND QUESTIONS

1. Students have to work alone, each using a separate microscope! Identify follicles of a different developmental
stage in mammal’s (rabbit’s, cat’s or rat’s) ovaries:
a. Look at the slide under the microscope in the magnification (x 10) objective;
b. Find in the slide and make a picture (use your smart phone camera, if possible) of primary,
secondary (developing) and mature (Graafian) follicle;
c. After the practical class copy and paste corresponding pictures (from your camera or from the folder
“Practical class 4 materials) in the Table 1 and answer the questions in Table 2.
Table 1.

Cross section of ______Mammal_________ovary

Primary follicle

Secondary follicle

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 Department of Biology and Microbiology, “Molecular and Cell Biology”

Mature (Graafian)

follicle

Table 2.
Type of follicle Structures that can be seen Period of oogenesis
(oocyte, nucleus of oocyte, Zona (choose from: proliferation,
pellucida, follicular cells, anthrum, growth, maturation)
corona radiata, cumulus oophorus)
Primary Oocyte, follicular cells, nucleus of the Proliferation
oocyte, zona pellucida
Secondary Oocyte, follicular cells, anthrum, Growth
follicular cells
Mature (Graafian) Oocyte, Zona pellucida, follicular cells, Maturation
anthrum, corona radiata, cumulus
oophorus

2. Identify mature human sperm cells:

a. Look at the slide under the microscope in the magnification (x 40) objective;
b. Find in the slide and make a picture (use your smart phone camera, if possible) of mature sperm
cells;
c. After the practical class copy and paste corresponding picture (from your camera or from the folder
“Practical class 4 materials) in the Table 3 -> Microscopic. Put coresponding terms of labeled
structures in schematic drawing and label main structures of a mature sperm cell: head (with
acrosome), midpiece and tail in your picture.

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 Department of Biology and Microbiology, “Molecular and Cell Biology”

Table 3.
Human mature sperm cells Picture Features Choose
(spermatozoa) from
Schematic 1 – Head Acrosome
2 – Tail Midpiece
3 – Mid Tail
piece Head
4– Nucleus
Acrosome Centrioles
5 – nucleus Mitochondria
6–
centrioles
7–
mitochondria

Microscopic (paste a picture)

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 Department of Biology and Microbiology, “Molecular and Cell Biology”

3. Please answer the following questions!

No. Question
3.1. What is Zona pellucida?
What does it consist of?
Describe its function in oogenesis and
fertilization?
Answer
The zona Pellucida is a specialised structurE consisting of three
Main glycoproteins ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3. ZP1 is the structural
component which protects the oocyte during oogenesis, ZP2 and
ZP3 are used in sperm binding and recognition during fertilisation to
ensure only sperm of the same species can penetrate the zona
pellucida and fertilise the oocyte. The zona pellucida also prevents
polyspermy (prevents oocyte from being fertilised by more than one
sperm). After the first sperm penetrates the zona pellucida the
glycoproteins change structure to make the zona pellucida
impenetrable to additional sperm. Thereafter the acrosome reaction
is initiated.

3.2. What is Corona radiata?

What does it consist of?
Describe its function in oogenesis and
fertilization?
The corona radiata is a layer of cells that surrounds the Zona
pellucida (and oocyte) and is formed by differentiation of follicUlar
cells. During oogenesis, the corona radiata provides nutritional
support (proteins, nutrients and hormones for growth and
maturation) to the developing oocyte. During fertilisation the corona
radiata acts as a barrier and prevents polyspermy by slowing down
the progress of sperm, allowing only the most competent sperm to
penetrate the zona pellucida and fuse with the egg. This is done by
the granulosa cells that lie within the corona radiata.

3.3. What is an acrosome? What is its
significance in fertilization?
The acrosome is a specialised organelle located in the tip of the
sperm head and contains Hydrolytic enzymes such as a rosin and
hyaluronidase that are released to digest the zona pellucida and
enable the sperm to penetrate the corona radiata and zona pellucida
and fuse with the egg in fertilisation.

3.4. What would be the consequences in human if non-disjunction of chromosomes X and Y would happen during
the cell division marked with arrows?

Non-disjunction of chromosomes X and Y during meiosis 1 can result in gametes with either no X or no Y
chromosome. If a gamete with no X chromosome fuses with a normal egg, the resulting offspring will have Turner
syndrome. This can lead to short stature, infertility, and various physical and developmental abnormalities. If a
gamete with no Y chromosome fuses with a normal sperm, the resulting offspring will not be viable.

3.4.1. Write the possible Karyotype (from cell 1):

karyotypes of matured 23, X0
sperm cells (arising from
cell 1 and cell 2). Karyotype (from cell 2): 24, XYY

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Department of Biology and Microbiology, “Molecular and Cell Biology”

3.4.2. How many cells of Number of cells (from cell 1):

each karyotype would be 2
formed? Number of cells (from cell 1):
2

3.4.3. Write possible Karyotype of zygote (from cell 1):

karyotypes of the zygote 45, X0
formed by sperm cell
arising from cell 1 and cell Karyotype of zygote (from cell 2):
2 fussing with normal egg. 47, XXY