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Human ova grow from primitive germ cells that are embedded in the substance of the ovaries. [10] The ovum is one of the largest cells in the human body, typically visible to the naked eye without the aid of a microscope or other magnification device. [11] The human ovum measures approximately 120 μm (0.0047 in) in diameter. [12]
The quality is determined by the maturity of the oocyte and the cells that it comprises, which are susceptible to various factors which impact quality and thus reproductive success. [1] This is of significance as an embryo's development is more heavily reliant on the oocyte in comparison to the sperm. [1]
The human ovary contains a population of primordial follicles. At 18–22 weeks post-conception, the female ovary contains its peak number of follicles (about 300,000 in the average case, but individual peak populations range from 35,000 to 2.5 million [ 3 ] ). p The size of the initial ovarian reserve is strongly influenced by genetics . [ 4 ]
The meiotic division I produces 2 cells differing in size: a small polar body and a large secondary oocyte. The secondary oocyte undergoes meiotic division II and that results in the formation of a second small polar body and a large mature egg, both being haploid cells. The polar bodies degenerate. [12]
The zona pellucida is a translucent matrix of cross-linked glycoprotein filaments that surrounds the mammalian oocyte and is 6.5–20 μm thick depending on the species. Its formation, which depends on a conserved zona pellucida-like (ZP) module that mediates the polymerization of egg coat components, [2] is critical to successful fertilization. [3]
For fertilization to occur, human sperm must bind to the zona pellucida (ZP), the translucent matrix covering the human egg composed of four glycoproteins—ZP1, 2, 3, and 4—and transit through the matrix in order to fuse with the oocyte. [3] The human ZP is coated with dense N- and O-glycans that are terminated with the sialyl-Lewis X ...
Oocytes reach normal size and form a zona pellucida although organelles become clustered and cortical granules do not form. [11] In GDF9 deficient oocytes the meiotic ability is significantly altered, where less than half will proceed metaphase 1 or 2 and a large percentage of oocytes have abnormal germinal vesicle breakdown. [ 11 ]
In human fertilization, a released ovum (a haploid secondary oocyte with replicate chromosome copies) and a haploid sperm cell (male gamete) combine to form a single diploid cell called the zygote. Once the single sperm fuses with the oocyte, the latter completes the division of the second meiosis forming a haploid daughter with only 23 ...