Mouse Gametogenesis

4Bio3

Mouse
Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Murinae
Species: Mus musculus

pointed snout, small rounded ears, and a

long naked or almost hairless tail
mostly crepuscular or nocturnal
viviparous
life span: 2-3 years domestically

Mouse model organism

Sperm and embryos can be frozen

ideal for less maintenance of specimen

Disadvantages:

Number of embryos: low

Cost: high
Access: poor
Micromanipulation: limited

Advantages:

Genetics: good
Gene inventory: known

Gametogenesis
Formation of gametes
Male gamete = sperm cell
Female gamete = egg cell

Germ cells = future gametes

How do germ cell arise?
Either by cytoplasmic determinants or
induction
In mice, totipotent cells become germ cells via
induction (BMP4)

Gametogenesis
What happens after induction of
germ cells?
Multiplication
Migration to gonads

Gametogenesis can either

termed as spermatogenesis
oogenesis

be
or

Meiosis
Specialized cell division
Produces reproductive cells or
gametes
Haploid
Involves synapsis
Allows crossing over of genetic
material
Meiosis I & Meiosis II

Meiosis I
Interphase
Prophase I

Leptotene
Zygotene
Pachytene
Diplotene
Diakinesis

Metaphase I
Anaphase I
Telophase I

Interphase
G1
Synthesis of proteins needed for DNA
replication

S
Duplication of DNA
Produces sister chromatids

G2
Synthesis of proteins
required for cell division

Prophase I
Leptotone
Chromatids coil into
chromosomes
Chromosomes are at their
longest (uncoiled)
Chromosomes appear single
because of tightly bound sister
chromatids

Prophase I
Zygotene
Homologous pairs of
chromosomes begin to unite
Formation of Tetrads
Bivalents

Prophase I
Pachytene
Two sister chromatids of each
chromosomes separate from
each other
Homologues are still paired
Crossing-over of genetic material
occurs

Prophase I
Diplotene
Paired chromosomes begin to separate
into two pairs of chromatids

Diakinesis
Nucleolus dissappears
Chromosomes are tightly coiled
Chromosomes are in its shortest
configuration
Nuclear envelopes disappear

Metaphase I
Tetrads are randomly pulled to the
middle of the cell

Anaphase I
Tetrads are pulled apart
Chromosomes are pulled to opposite
ends of the cell

Telophase I
Cleavage is formed
Homologs of Bivalents arrive at opposite
poles of the cell
Nucleus regrows
Cytokinesis occurs
Produces two haploid daughter cells

Meiosis II

Prophase II

Metaphase II

Anaphase II

Telophase II

End product of Meiosis

4 Haploid cells

Oogenesis
- The process of formation of eggs
- Takes place in the ovaries

Oogonium
Oocyte
Primary oocyte
Secondary oocyte
Ovum

Spermatogenesis

Seminiferous tubules of the Testes

Spermatogonium
Primary Spermatocyte
Secondary Spermatocyte
Spermatids (Spermiogenesis)
Spermatozoa / Sperm
Testis ->Epididymis -> Vas Deferens
Capacitation

Testis
Located in the scrotum
Covered by a thick layer of fibrous
connective tissue
Consists of convoluted seminiferous
tubules

Testis
Tunica albuginea
layer of fibrous connective tissue with a
covering of mesothelial cells
covers the mouse testis

Seminiferous Tubules
Numerous spherical structures that are filled
with spermatogenic cells
Leydig/Interstital Cells
cells with conspicuous nuclei, located in the interstitial
space between seminiferous tubules. They have
abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and blood vessels.
Produces testosterone

Testis
- Made up of specialized seminiferous epithelium
- 2 kinds of cells in the seminiferous epithelium
1.) Sertoli cells (sustentacular/nurse)
spaced at regular intervals at the base of
epithelium and have a large oval nuclei
2.) male sex cells
spermatogonia (least matured),
spermatocytes, round spermatids,
elongated spermatids and spermatozoa
(most matured)

Spermatogenesis
At birth = undifferentiated type A1 spermatogonia
Day 3 = Differentiation has begun
Day 8-10 = Spermatocytes observed = Leptotene
phase
Day 17-19 = 50% of seminiferous tubules contain
cells in the Pachytene stage
After day 20 = Round spermatids can be observed
Next 13 days = Round spermatids differentiate into
elongating spermatids

Morphologically-mature sperm released into

lumen

References
Slack, J. M. W. (2013). Model Organisms. Essential Developmental Biology (74-77).
Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Klug, Cummings, Spencer & Palladino (2014). Essentials of Genetics. (8th ed.). Singapore:
Pearson Education Limited
House mouse. (2016). Retrieved August 25, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_mouse
McCarthy, E. M., PhD. (n.d.). Substages of Prophase I - Online Biology Dictionary. Retrieved
August 25, 2016, from http://www.macroevolution.net/prophase-details.html
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York:
Garland Science; 2002. Primordial Germ Cells and Sex Determination in
Mammals.Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26940/
Saitou M, Yamaji M (2012) Primordial germ cells in mice. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol
4(11):a008375.
Cuschieri,A. (n.d.). GAMETOGENESIS. Retrieved from
http://staff.um.edu.mt/acus1/GAMETOGENESIS.htm
Laboratory Manual in Comparative Vertebrate Embryology
Images:
http://data.whicdn.com/images/127068761/original.gif
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/meiosis/images/metel1.gif
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/meiosis/images/meana1.gif
https://sites.google.com/site/meiosis200/_/rsrc/1327773075103/home/meiosis-1/Meiosis1.pn
g
http://ctrgenpath.net/static/atlas/mousehistology/Windows/maleu/testis40.html
http://ctrgenpath.net/static/atlas/mousehistology/Windows/maleu/testis40.html
Embryology Atlas

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