A 26-year-old man contracted viral influenza with an unremitting fever of 39.5°C (103°F) for three days. Because spermatogenesis cannot occur above a scrotal temperature of 35.5°C (96°F), he was left with no viable sperm on his recovery. Which of the following is the approximate time required for spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, and passage of viable sperm to the epididymis ?
- 3 days
- 1 week
- 5 weeks
- 2 months
- 4 months
View Explanation
In man the time required for the progression from spermatogonium to motile spermatozoon is about two months (61 to 64 days). Spermatogenesis, the process by which spermatogonia undergo mitotic division to produce primary spermatocytes, occurs at 1°C (2°F) below normal body temperature. Subsequent meiotic divisions produce secondary spermatocytes with a bivalent haploid chromosome number and then spermatids with a monovalent haploid chromosome number. The maturation of the spermatid, spermiogenesis, results in spermatozoa. Morphologically adult spermatozoa are moved to the epididymis where they become fully motile.