✅ ESPERMATOGÉNESIS ¿Como se forman los espermatozoides? | EMBRIOLOGÍA 📚

Spermatogenesis Overview

Spermatogenesis is the biological process during which spermatogonia are transformed into spermatozoa. It begins at puberty and continues throughout adult life. This process takes place in the seminiferous tubes of the testicles, which are located in the scrotal bag to maintain a lower temperature than the abdominal cavity.

The Structure of Seminiferous Tubes

• The walls of each tubule consist of a basement membrane and several layers of cells.

• Two types of cells are present: sertoli cells and spermatogonia.

• Sertoli cells are large, tall cells that form compartments where spermatogonia are housed.

• Sertoli cells have various functions, including protecting spermatogenic cells from the immune system, capturing testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, filtering substances, producing hormones that inhibit gonadotropins release, phagocytosing degenerating spermatogonia, secreting substances to nourish spermatids, and secreting Mullerian inhibitory factor.

• Spermatogonia are male germ cells found between sertoli cells.

• There are two types of spermatogonia: type A and type B.

• Type A spermatogonia divide by mitosis to maintain the population of spermatogonia.

• Type B spermatogonia differentiate into primary spermatocytes.

Stages of Spermiogenesis

Golgi Phase

• The acrosome begins to form from the Golgi apparatus.

• Centrioles migrate to the posterior side of the spermatid.

Cap or Hood Phase

• The acrochroma on the nucleus increases in size, giving it a cap-like shape.

• The nucleus condenses.

Acrosome Phase

• Various modifications occur in the morphology of the cell.

Differentiation Phase

• The head, neck, and tail of the spermatozoon become well differentiated.

• Residual cytoplasm begins to detach but remains connected to a small portion.

Spermiation or Maturation Phase

• The loss of residual cytoplasm occurs and is phagocytosed by sertoli cells.

• Fully formed spermatozoa enter the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and are propelled towards the epididymis by contractile activity of the wall.