Assisted Reproductive Technology
Assisted Reproductive Technology
Assisted Reproductive Technology
Technology
Chapter 2
Central Points
Sperm and eggs are formed in specialized organs
Males and females have different reproductive
organs
Infertility is a problem in some areas of the world
Medical techniques can assist infertile individuals
Legal cases will decide treatment of frozen embryos
Males
Testes produce sperm by meiosis and secrete
androgens
Sperm
SpermProduction
are produced by spermatogenesis in
the seminiferous tubules
Move to epididymis for storage
Muscles move sperm to the vas deferens
Then move sperm to the urethra and out
Vasectomy
Vas deferens is cut
Sperm are absent
Spermatogenesis
Occurs in seminiferous tubules, begins at
puberty, and continues throughout life
Spermatogonia divide by mitosis
Spermatocytes divide by meiosis to produce
spermatids (23 chromosomes)
Spermatids form mature sperm with tails
Spermatogenesis
Animation: Spermatogenesis
Oogenesis
2.4 Infertility
Requirements for a successful conception:
A healthy sperm and a healthy egg unite to form
a zygote
Place for fertilization to occur (a fallopian tube)
Place for the fetus to grow (a uterus)
Donation of Gametes
Measure hormone levels and may treat with
estrogen or testosterone
If hormone treatments unsuccessful, gamete
donation from a sperm and/or egg donor
Sperm Donation
Widely used for almost 50 years
Known or unknown donors
Frozen in liquid nitrogen
Sperm banks offer sperm from qualified donors
Web sites offer ability to choose the traits of the
donors
Artificial Insemination
Sperm is placed into the womans uterus at
ovulation
Sperm donation or sperm from several
ejaculations can be pooled and concentrated
Sperm can be retrieved from the epididymis or
the testis using microsurgery
Egg Donation
Egg donation is more difficult
Retrieval is time-dependent and involves
surgery
Donor undergoes hormone treatment and
laparoscopy
Freezing is difficult, and eggs are used for IVF
immediately after retrieval
Surrogacy
Two types:
Egg donor surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy