Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
Human Centrosomal Dynamics During
Gametogenesis, Fertilization,
and Embryogenesis and Its Impact
on Fertility: Ultrastructural Analysis
A. Henry Sathananthan
Abstract A review of the human centrosome at the beginning of life is presented,
based on our research over the past 25 years at Monash on gametes, fertilization,
and embryos in conjunction with our pioneering work on human in vitro fertil-
ization (IVF) and assisted reproduction. The digital images are mainly based on
fine
structure
presentations
from
published
work,
conference,
and
Web
presentations.
5.1 Introduction
The centrosome has been an enigma in cell biology for over 120 years, discovered
by Theodore Boveri (
1900
). Some cells have centrioles within the centrosome
complex but others do not. Oocytes, some rodents, some flies, and plants do not
have centrioles. We now know that centrioles originate from the sperm cell at
fertilization in humans (Sathananthan et al.
1991
,
1996
,
2006
; Sathananthan
1991
,
1997
,
1998
; Schatten
1994
,
2008
; Simerly et al.
1995
; Sutovsky and Schatten
1999
; Palermo et al.
1997
) and in most animals from round worms to primates,
who obey Boveri's rule; unfortunately, Boveri's brilliant work (Fig.
5.1
) and its
impact on infertility was not recognized for over a 100 years (Sathananthan et al.
2006
). The role of the centrosome in mitosis of the embryo, organizing the first
mitotic spindle and initiating the process of human development is now well
established (Sathananthan et al.
1996
; Sathananthan
1997
,
1998
). It is also
involved in organizing the cytoskeleton, establishes cell polarity, and plays a role
A. H. Sathananthan (
)
Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Melbourne, Australia
e-mail: henry.sathananthan@monash.eduhenry.sathananthan@med.monash.edu.au
&
