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Endocrine Week 5 2017/18 > 1: Physiology and pharmacology - Reproduction/Sex steroid axis > Flashcards

1: Physiology and pharmacology - Reproduction/Sex steroid axis Flashcards

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1
Q

Which endocrine glands are associated with the menstrual cycle?

A

Hypothalamus

Anterior pituitary gland

Ovaries

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2
Q

Which hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle?

A

GnRH

FSH

LH

Oestradiol (which is a type of oestrogen)

Progesterone

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3
Q

What are the four phases of the menstrual cycle?

A

Follicular phase

Ovulation

Luteal phase

Menstruation

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4
Q

How long does the menstrual cycle last on average?

A

28 days

Range = 21 - 35 days

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5
Q

How long does menstruation typically last?

A

3 - 8 days

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6
Q

When in the menstrual cycle does ovulation occur?

A

14 days

About halfway through

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7
Q

What is an ovarian follicle?

A

Fluid filled sac which contains an egg

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8
Q

During the follicular phase, oestrogen levels are (high / low).

A

Low oestrogen levels

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9
Q

What does the anterior pituitary do during the follicular phase?

A

Secretes FSH and LH

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10
Q

What type of special follicle develops in response to FSH secretion by the anterior pituitary gland?

A

Leading follicle

i.e the follicle which will actually release an egg

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11
Q

Which type of cells are found around the egg in the leading follicle?

A

Granulosa cells

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12
Q

What do granulosa cells release into the leading follicle?

A

Oestradiol

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13
Q

What particular processes does FSH cause in the leading follicle?

A

Growth of the follicle itself

Growth of granulosa cells, which release oestradiol

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14
Q

What effect does oestradiol have on the uterus?

A

Causes uterine wall to thicken

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15
Q

What is ovulation?

A

Release of an unfertilised egg from the ovaries

Happens at the end of the follicular phase

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16
Q

Which hormonal change triggers ovulation?

A

LH surge

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17
Q

What triggers the LH surge which causes ovulation?

A

Raised oestradiol

(produced by granulosa cells)

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18
Q

How does the follicle release the egg during ovulation?

A

Proteolytic enzymes digest the walls of the follicle

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19
Q

Where is the egg released during ovulation?

A

Into the Fallopian tubes

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20
Q

What are other names for the Fallopian tubes?

A

Uterine tubes

Salpinges

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21
Q

Which phase of the menstrual cycle occurs after ovulation?

A

Luteal phase

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22
Q

What colour are granulosa cells?

A

Yellow

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23
Q

What is the name given to the granulosa cells remaining after ovulation?

A

Corpus luteum

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24
Q

What hormone does the corpus luteum produce?

A

Progesterone

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25
When does peak progesterone production by the corpus luteum occur?
**Roughly one week after ovulation** e.g Day 21
26
What happens to the corpus luteum after the luteal phase if **pregnancy** occurs?
**Placenta produces hCG which preserves the corpus luteum** =\> Physiological amenorrhoea
27
Which phase occurs if there is no pregnancy after the luteal phase?
**Menstruation**
28
During menstruation, progesterone levels **(increase / decrease)**. Why?
**decrease** **Corpus luteum disintegrates**
29
What is found in menses?
**Tissue** (mainly uterine wall) **Blood** **Unfertilised egg**
30
Changes in which hormones are seen in a) ovulation b) menstruation?
**a) Ovulation** =\> oestradiol increase, LH surge **b) Menstruation** =\> progesterone decrease as corpus luteum disintegrates
31
Apart from triggering the LH surge in ovulation, what else does oestradiol cause?
**Uterine wall thickening**
32
Which axis controls the menstrual cycle?
**Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis**
33
Which hormone is released by the hypothalamus to stimulate secretion of TSH and LH from the anterior pituitary?
**GnRH**
34
TSH and LH are also known as what?
**Gonadotrophins**
35
Which precursor are female sex hormones produced from?
**Cholesterol**
36
Which part of the hypothalamus produces GnRH?
**Arcturate nucleus**
37
Which part of the pituitary gland produces FSH and LH?
**Anterior pituitary gland**
38
Which ligament fixes the ovary to the pelvic side wall?
**IP ligament** | (infundibulopelvic ligament)
39
What are the two parts of the ovary?
**Cortex** **Medulla** (as in adrenal glands)
40
What are the two parts of the uterus called?
**Body** **Cervix** from superior to inferior
41
What is the superficial layer of the uterus called?
**Endometrium**
42
Which hormone causes the endometrium to thicken?
**Oestradiol**
43
In the luteal phase, which two hormones **must** be produced to stop the endometrium sloughing off the uterine wall?
**Progesterone** (if corpus luteum disintegrates, levels fall) **hCG** (human chorionic gonadotrophin, produced by placenta after implantation)
44
What is **hCG**?
**Human chorionic gonadotrophin** Produced by placenta after implantation; stops sloughing of uterine wall i.e menstruation
45
Which cells are found in ovarian follicles and produce **androgen**?
**Theca cells**
46
Which hormone stimulates Theca cells to produce androgen?
**LH**
47
Which cells are found in ovarian follicles and produce **aromatase**?
**Granulosa cells**
48
Which hormone stimulates granulosa cells to produce aromatase?
**FSH**
49
Aromatase combines with ___ to form oestradiol.
**androgen**
50
Progesterone is produced by the ___ \_\_\_. Progesterone can then be converted into androgen in ___ cells. This product is then combined with aromatase to form oestrogen in ___ cells.
**corpus luteum** **Theca cells** **Granulosa cells**
51
GnRH is released in a ___ fashion by the hypothalamus.
**pulsatile**
52
What is FSH's role in the HPO axis?
**Stimulates leading follicle** **Granulosa cell growth** and **aromatase activity**
53
What does LH do?
**Surge causes ovulation** **Activates theca cells**, which convert androgens to oestrogens
54
Which peptide hormones **decrease FSH secretion by negative feedback**?
**Inhibins**
55
Which peptides **stimulate FSH secretion**?
**Activins**
56
The testes can be split into which two compartments?
**Seminiferous tubules** **Interstitial fluid**
57
Which cells are found in the a) seminiferous tubules b) interstitial fluid of the testes?
**a) Tubular cells -** Sertoli cells, Germ cells **b) Interstitial cells** **-** Leydig cells
58
What do Sertoli cells do?
**Support Germ cells during their development into spermatozoa**
59
What do Germ cells do?
**Differentiate into spermatozoa**
60
What do Leydig cells do?
**Secrete testosterone in response to LH**
61
Testosterone is secreted by which cell of the testes?
**Leydig cells**
62
What process does testosterone stimulate in the seminiferous tubules?
**Spermatogenesis**
63
Testosterone has what sort of effect on LH and GnRH secretion?
**Negative feedback**
64
Which hormone, along with testosterone, also stimulates spermatogenesis?
**FSH**
65
Which hormone reduces FSH secretion by the anterior pituitary and therefore reduces the rate of spermatogenesis?
**Inhibin**
66
Name a specific way in which Sertoli cells support Germ cells as they undergo spermatogenesis.
**Secrete androgen-binding globulin (ABG) which mops up excess testosterone** **Controlling the rate of spermatogenesis**
67
What does **dihydro**testosterone do?
**Enlarges testes** **Causes expression of male sexual characteristics** **Anabolism**
68
What is an **acrosome**?
Sac, found in the sperm cell head, which contains digestive enzymes These enzymes break down the outer membrane of the oocyte to help with fertilisation
69
Sperm cells have large numbers of which organelle?
**Mitochondria**
70
Why are oocytes much larger than spermatozoa?
They contain: **Yolk proteins** (food source) **Ribosomes** **tRNA** and **mRNA**
71
Where is the site of fertilisation?
**Ampulla** of Fallopian tubes
72
What happens to the cervical mucus when spermatozoa are detected in the uterus?
**Cervical mucus thins**
73
Which type of muscular movements bring the unfertilised oocyte to the ampulla of the Fallopian tubes?
**Peristalsis**
74
Where do spermatozoa mature?
**In the female genital tract**
75
Which process do spermatozoa undergo in the female genital tract before they are capable of fertilising an egg?
**Capacitation**
76
Following capacitation, which organelle do spermatozoa use to penetrate the egg?
**Acrosome**
77
Fertilisation occurs when which organelles of the oocyte and spermatozoa fuse?
**Nuclei**
78
What is the outer membrane of an oocyte called?
**Zona pellucida**
79
Once a spermatozoa has penetrated the zona pellucida using its acrosomal enzymes, what reaction occurs? What does this reaction prevent?
**Zona reaction** - zona pellucida becomes impenetrable to any more sperm cells ## Footnote **Polyspermy**
80
When a sperm cell penetrates the zona pellucida, the levels of certain ions changes to a) prevent polyspermy b) activate the egg. Which ions?
**Na**+ **Ca**2+
81
Which process begins in an oocyte once it has been activated by sperm penetration?
**Meiosis**
82
Once an oocyte has been activated, its rate of protein synthesis **(increases / decreases)**.
**rate of protein synthesis & metabolism increases**
83
The ___ sperm cell nucleus and ___ egg cell nucleus fuse to form a ___ zygote. ## Footnote **(haploid , diploid)**
**haploid sperm and egg** **diploid zygote**

Endocrine Week 5 2017/18 (7 decks)

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