Spermatozoa

Question 1

Know the structure of sperm and general characteristics.

Answer 1

-Head: Nucleus, Acrosome, and Postnuclear cap
-Tail: Middle piece, Principal piece, and Terminal piece

Question 2

Know the characteristics of the head of the sperm

Answer 2

-Nucleus: Oval and Flattened
-Genetic material is nearly inert due to high degree of keratinization.
-At fertilization disulfide cross links are reduced in cytoplasm of oocyte (Glutathione)

Question 3

Know the characteristics of the acrosome of the sperm

Answer 3

-Covers the anterior ⅔ of the nucleus
-Membrane bound lysosome that contains hydrolytic enzymes
~ Acrosin
~Hyaluronidase
~Zona lysin
~Esterases
~Acid hydrolases

Question 4

Know the characteristics of the postnuclear cap of the sperm

Answer 4

Membrane component posterior to the acrosome

Question 5

Middle piece

Answer 5

-Mitochondria arranged in a helical structure.
-Laminated columns: Flexibility for movement.
-9 coarse fibers.
-Axoneme
~9 pairs of microtubules around 2 central filaments (9+9+2)
~Annulus: where the middle piece and the principle come together

Question 6

Principal piece

Answer 6

Majority of the tail

Question 7

Terminal piece

Answer 7

Very end of the tail

Question 8

Know at least 3 sperm abnormalities.

Answer 8

-Primary: head
-Secondary: tail
-Tertiary: Cytoplasmic droplets

Question 9

Know the specific changes that sperm undergo in the epididymis as they prepare for ejaculation.

Answer 9

-Change in fertility
-development of motility
-nuclear condensation
-loss of cytoplasmic droplet
-Increased disulfide crosslinking

Question 10

Know the general components of semen.

Answer 10

-Water
-Sperm
-Substrates: Fructose, Sorbitol, Inositol, GCP, and Citric acid
-Inorganic salts: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Chloride
-Proteins

Question 11

Know the characteristics we look for during a semen evaluation.

Answer 11

-Color
-Volume
-Concentration
-Motility and Viability
-Morphology

Question 12

How is Concentration evaluated/measured?

Answer 12

-Best determined with a hemocytometer
-Can also be determined with a spectrophotometer, photometer, or fluorometer

Question 13

How is Motility and Viability evaluated/measured?

Answer 13

-Visual estimation
-Computer aided sperm analysis (CASA)
-Fluorescent dye

Question 14

Composition of Ejaculate bull

Answer 14

single fraction

Question 15

Composition of Ejaculate ram

Answer 15

single fraction

Question 16

Composition of Ejaculate boar

Answer 16

-Fractioned:
~Sperm free
~sperm rich
-Coagulum

Question 17

Composition of Ejaculate stallion

Answer 17

-Fractionated:
~Sperm-free
~Sperm-rich
-Mucus

Question 18

Composition of Ejaculate human

Answer 18

Single fraction (coagulated)

Question 19

Know how sperm cells generate movement.

Answer 19

-Axoneme: Sliding of microfilaments in axoneme
~Require ATP and dynein arm

Question 20

Know the distribution of ATP utilization in sperm.

Answer 20

-Motility: 60%
-Substrate cycling: Removal of waste and 40%
-Maintenance of ionic gradients: Very small amounts
-Transcription and translation: None after condensation of nucleus and loss of residual body

Question 21

Know how temperature affects sperm metabolism and motility.

Answer 21

-ATP production increases as temperature increases: Metabolism
-Motility increases as temperature increases: To a certain point