Q. 21

[mueller86606]

I thought that FSH stimulated spermatogenesis. Wouldn't this also result in a second meiotic division somewhere along the line?

[mcat_premed3832]

Let's imagine a sequence of related events.

As a result of your hunger, you go to a restaurant. You order food, the cook makes it and the waitress brings it to your table. You can say that your hunger initiated your trip to the restaurant but to say that your hunger initiated the waitress coming to your table is a stretch.

You are correct that FSH initiates spermatogenesis. Specifically, in this NIH article:

1) FSH acts to stimulate spermatogenesis through an increase in spermatogonial number and subsequent entry of these cells into meiosis; 2) FSH has no direct effect on the completion of meiosis (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19846485)

Back to the MCAT: it is all about pattern recognition. The expression "initiate a second meiotic division" always refers to the ovum (unless some unnatural process/drug is being discussed) and always refers to fertilization.