Similar to our last blog, but much more in-depth, we're looking at a process called follicular genesis and oogenesis in this one. In essence, oogenesis is the process by which the oocyte—also called the ovum—becomes the egg. This crucial sex cell or gamete is connected to the female reproductive system. Its responsibility is to ensure that it possesses the proper genetic material to produce viable babies when fertilized by a sperm.
Follicular Genesis
The term follicular genesis describes the evolution of follicles, which are various cell types that can enclose the ovum and aid its protection and nourishment. They can also generate specific hormones that can help with the process of fertilization and the implantation of the fertilized oocyte.
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is a simpler process that produces both sperm and eggs. Here, we must generate viable sperm. And to achieve this, we begin with spermatogonia, which are stem cells. Our genes are found in this cell. It has twenty-three pairs of chromosomes. Puberty is the first step in this process that must take place. When it comes to spermatogenesis, this is crucial. This starts during adolescence. Consequently, it must grow its genetic material. Since this begins at puberty, this will continue all the way to old age, basically to the end of life for a male.
This begins throughout pregnancy, fetal life, and prenatal care for females. When the female is within the mother's uterus, this process begins. Additionally, this process begins during the perinatal period. It begins in early childhood and lasts till puberty. This doesn't continue until adolescence; however, it could begin during fetal life. It's frozen right now. Meiosis is this. It's important to note that this is an egg. The egg contains the genetic material. When one of these viable sperm fertilizes you, it must be viable so that the genetic material may mix and you can go through the complete process, including embryo development and fertilization.
In the ovary where this process takes place, the cell or egg has to be protected, fed, nourished, and other things, thus we need to understand foliculogenesis. And this is the nature of Folliculogenesis.
Primary Oocyte: And what you'll discover, once more, is that it is encircled by these somewhat flat-looking cells known as pregranulosa cells throughout fetal development.
Pregranulosa cells: These cells are referred to as primordial follicles, and they are associated with oocytes. Thus, a primordial follicle is what it is called. It is not a primordial follicle that remains that way. It passes through several stages of growth and maturity. This is refered to as primordial follicle or a primary follicle. Pregranulosa cells, the main follicle, will subsequently develop into more cuboidal-looking cells that we no longer refer to as pregranulosa cells. We just call them granulosa cells. Also, there is another structure - the zona pellucida which surrounds the oocyte. The granulosa cells help nourish that oocyte, keep it alive and make sure everything's okay.
The structure that surrounds the oocyte is called the zona pellucida, and it serves as a sort of security mechanism during ovulation when one of these sperm cells tries to enter the egg and manages to do so. The zona pellucida initiates a cascade of actions that shuts off the egg after a sperm cell has entered, preventing more sperm from entering. Thus, this follicle is no longer primordial. Additionally, a main follicle will develop into a secondary one. Additionally, the oocyte becomes somewhat larger in this case.
From fetal development till adolescence, 10 to 30 primordial follicles go through this process each month. You have around 7 million. But keep in mind that animals are taken, go through this procedure, and keep dying every month—ten to thirty.
Our birth population has increased from 7 million to 1 million. Then we have 300,000 by the time we reach adolescence. The entire process began throughout puberty and continues to this day. Puberty forays here, and meiosis is over.
Certain hormones are produced when puberty occurs. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are located near the brain. The anterior and posterior regions make up the pituitary gland. Because of the hypothalamus, the anterior part of the pituitary gland releases a hormone known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone when puberty occurs. Additionally, it makes its way to the anterior pituitary gland via the blood supply. Two other hormones will also be released by the anterior pituitary gland. It will release what we refer to as the gonadotropins, and I'll highlight them in red and black.
Released gonadotropin-releasing hormone travels down this blood channel from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary, where it induces the production of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and two other gonadotropins. In fact, for their whole reproductive existence, they are pulsatilely expelled every 90 minutes. You therefore experience this pulsating discharge from around the age of eleven till approximately the late forties.
In addition to pulsing every 90 minutes, it also undergoes changes throughout a 28-day period, which we refer to as the menstrual, uterine, or ovarian cycles. These hormones are produced when a person reaches puberty. These cells have receptors that the released follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone can attach to. Not all of these cells will experience atresia; just some will. Some will develop into what are known as pre-antral or pre-ovulatory follicles. Typically, they have a rather cuboidal form. Theca cells carry luteinizing hormone receptors.
These receptors are found on the various kinds of granulosa and theca cell primary follicles. Then, the follicle-stimulating hormone at the granulosa and luteinizing hormone at the theca. Together, they generate estradiol. The granulosa cells have the ability to convert androgens like testosterone into estrogens like estradiol after receiving the androgens from the theca cells. Thus, the release of estrogens has occurred. The uterus is where this estrogen goes. The goal of the entire procedure is to ovulate an egg that can be fertilized and subsequently embedded in the endometrium of the uterus. Therefore, the uterus thickens and becomes more vascularized as a result of the estrogen released during this period. However, due of negative feedback, that estrogen will return to the brain and specifically instruct the anterior pituitary gland, which releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, to cease releasing the gonadotropins.
The core of reproductive science is comprehending the complex processes of oogenesis, Folliculogenesis, and spermatogenesis. Not only are these fundamental subjects significant, but they are also necessary for anybody hoping to become an authority in embryology and IVF. The Fellowship in Embryology or Fellowship in Clinical Embryology at Medline Academics is the ideal next step in your career if you have a strong desire to help couples start families and want to have a significant influence on the field of reproductive medicine.
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