Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
Function of the reproductive system
- provides gametes for procreation of species
- mating
- fertilization
Organs of the reproductive system
- called gonads
- pathway for gamete transport
- accessory organs and glands
Functions of gonads
- organs which produce gametes
- source of sex steroid hormones
Gonads of the male reproductive system
testis
Scrotal sac
- outside the body
- testes, blood vessels, nerves
Function of blood vessels in scrotal sac
- countercurrent blood flow to regulate temperature
- 2C below core body temperature for spermatogenesis
Function of spermatic cord in scrotal sac
- passes through slit in abdomen (inguinal canal)
- combination of vas deferens, blood vessels and nerves
Descent of testes
8 weeks - testes high in abdomen near kidneys
8-12 weeks - testes move down towards inguinal canal
7-9 months - testes pass through inguinal canal and rest in scrotum
birth - testes have have descended into scrotal space
Testes
- found inside scrotal sac
- male gonads
- divided into many compartments - highly twisted tubules called seminiferous tubules
- lead into rete testis network
- lead into efferent ductules
- lead into epididymis
Seminiferous tubules
- site of sperm production
- sit on basement membrane and contain a lumen
- cells are called spermatogenic cells
Mumps virus
- causes seminiferous tubules to become smaller
- lumen becomes bigger and spermatogenic cells look small
- effects spermatogenesis process
Leydig cells
- found in connective tissues surrounding seminiferous tubules
- also called interstitial cells
- produce hormone testosterone
Sertoli cells
- epithelial cells lining seminiferous tubule
- help the process of sperm development
- laid out side by side and sit on basement membrane
Smooth muscle cells
- just outside basement membrane
- muscle-like
- have contractile properties - help with peristalsis of sperm
Tight junctions
- join epithelial cells
- do not allow infections that harm sperm through
- create invisible ring-like structure
- form blood-testis barrier: form basal compartment and luminal compartment
7 Functions of Sertoli Cells
- support sperm development - trophic
- secrete luminal fluid for sperm housing
- secrete androgen-binding protein under influence of FSH: androgen buffer, maintains high luminal conc. of testosterone
- act as target cells for testosterone and FSH
- secrete inhibin
- phagocytosis of old/damaged sperm
- site of immunosuppression (blood testis barrier)
Testosterone - corticosteroid synthesis
- steroid hormone
- synthesized from cholesterol
- produced by adrenal cortex, gonads, and testes
In adrenal gland - corticosteroid synthesis
- intermediary hormone called progesterone is synthesized
- depends on enzymes present, progesterone is converted to mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, or androgens
In male gonads - corticosteroid synthesis
- formation of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids is bypassed in male gonads and more testosterone is produced
- testosterone receptors is located in intracellular locations - lipophilic nature to diffuse across membranes and influence gene transcription
In Leydig cells
cholesterol –> pregnenolone –> progesterone
- both progesterone and pregnenolone product androgens (testosterone)
4 ways testosterone is used/converted into
- as testosterone
- converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5-alpha reductase in prostate gland
- concerted to estrogen by aromatase in liver, adipose tissue, brain and testes
- broken down into inactive molecules
Puberty (10-14 years)
- sexual maturation
- reproductive organs mature
- secondary sexual characteristics develop
Plasma testosterone levels during lifespan
- before birth: high peak of testosterone then decreases until birth
- neonatal: high peak of testosterone then decreases until childhood
- puberty until adulthood: high at puberty then slowly declines around age 40 - andropause
Sperm production during lifespan
- begins at onset of puberty with sharp rise until adulthood
- sperm production is maintained until age 40-45 then starts to decline
Hypothalamic-pituitary-leydig cell axis
higher centers –> cues/signals –> hypothalamus –> GnRH –> anterior pituitary –>
- LH –> Leydig cells –> testosterone
- FSH –> Sertoli cells
GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone)
- pulsatile secretion every 90 minutes
- called pulse generator
- pulsatile to activate receptors (would no activate if constant release of GnRH)
High frequency pulses of GnRH
- predominant secretion is luteinizing hormone (LH)
Low frequency pulses of GnRH
- predominant secretion is follicle stimulation hormone (FSH)
Testosterone in negative feedback regulator
- hypothalamus - dampens amplitude of pulsatile secretion
- anterior pituitary - causes decreased responsiveness due to down regulation of GnRH receptors
6 Effects of androgens
- stimulate spermatogenesis
- promote development of secondary sex characteristics during puberty and maintenance in adult life
- increase sex drive
- promote protein synthesis in skeletal muscle
- stimulate growth hormone secretion for bone growth
- promote development of male reproductive structures during embryonic life
Spermatogenesis
formation of the male gamete or sperm
Mitosis
- enlarge and split a cell into 2 identical daughter cells that are genetically identical to original cell
- one remains a spermatogonium to ensure numbers are not depleted
- the other is a committed cell called a primary spermatocyte with a 2n
Meiosis
- each daughter cell receives half the chromosomes
- reduced from 46 chromosomes, diploid to a 23 chromosome haploid
What comes after the secondary spermatocyte
each one gives two spermatids - 4 spermatids produced
Duration of primary spermatocyte to spermatozoa
64 days
Where does spermatogenesis occur
- seminiferous tubule in the space between two adjacent Sertoli cells
- tight junction divides basal and luminal compartment and allows primary spermatocyte to move through
What is spermiogenesis
- last stage of spermatogenesis
- spermatids mature into motile spermatozoa
- nucleus, acrosomal vesicle, flagella, remodeled cytoplasm
- 24 days
Head of a sperm
nucleus - contains haploid number of chromosomes
acrosome - vesicle at the tip containing enzymes necessary for fertilization
Midpiece of a sperm
many mitochondria which generate ATP needed for movement of tail
Tail of a sperm
whip-like movements propel sperm
Sperm maturation
- spermatozoa released into lumen in immature form
- fluid pressure generated by Sertoli cells pushes the sperm forward towards the epididymis
- reside in epididymis for 6-12 days
- fluid is reabsorbed and sperm is concentrated
- move to vas deferens by peristalsis
Inhibin
- peptide hormone
- regulate axis at level of anterior pituitary to decrease secretion of FSH
- does not act at hypothalamic level
Seminal fluid comes from 3 glands
- seminal vesicle
- prostate gland
- bulbourethral gland
Functions of seminal fluid
- dilution of sperm
- provides energy as fructose
- formation of semen clot (fibrin-like protein that forms plug)
Seminal vesicles
- secrete alkaline (balance acidic environment of female tract) fluid with fructose, enzymes (produce semen clot), and prostaglandins (cause contraction of female tract for sperm to move forward)
Prostate gland
- secrete citrate (energy for sperm) and enzymes (PSA breaks down seminal clot making semen for fluid and is biomarker for cancer)
Bulbourethral gland
- secrete viscous fluid with mucus
3 phases of neural control for male reproduction
- erection phase
- emission phase
- ejaculation phase
Erection phase
- parasympathetic nervous system
- relaxation of blood vessels and increased blood flow into tissue
Emission phase
- sympathetic nervous system - thoracolumbar division
- acts of muscle tissue of prostate gland, vas deferens and seminal vesicle
- causes smooth muscle contraction leading to movement of sperm from vas deferens with mixing of seminal fluid into urogenital tract
Ejaculation phase
- rapid contraction of skeletal muscle for semen expulsion outside of body
Parasympathetic control of erection
- causes release of nitric oxide
- NO stimulates cGMP
- cGMP acts on smooth muscle of blood vessel to vasodilation
- cGMP is broken down by enzyme phosphodiesterase
Erectile dysfunction
- treated with Viagra (Sildenafil)
- acts as a inhibitor of enzyme phosphodiesterase
- actions of cGMP are prolonged maintaining vasodilation and erection
2 final sperm maturation processes
- capacitation
- acrosome reaction
Capacitation
- occurs as sperm moves through female reproductive tract
- receptors are made available through the removal of the glycoprotein layer
- area of acrosomal cap is altered
- tail movements change from wave-like to whiplash
Acrosomal reaction
- binding of sperm with zona pellucida (egg outer layer)
- creating pores which acrosomal enzymes can be released by exocytosis
- enzymes allow sperm to digest a path through zona pellucida to oocyte
3 characteristics of female repro system
- cyclic changes in activity - menstrual cycle
- restricted periods of fertility - ovulation
- limited production of gametes
Menarche
- onset of puberty
- first menstrual cycle
Menopause
- lost ability to reproduce around 45-50
Female gonads
ovaries
Female reproductive tract
uterus, Fallopian tubules, vaginal canal
Ovaries
site of ova maturation
- specifically opening of fallopian tubes
Uterine tubes
- fallopian tubes or oviducts
- transport ova from ovaries to uterus
- fimbria stick out and sit close to ovary
- fimbria have ciliated cells which capture and move egg
Site of fertilization
uterine tube
Movement of ovum through uterine tube
- initially - peristaltic contractions
- mostly - ciliary actions
- duration - 4 days to uterus
Ectopic pregnancy
- cilia does not move egg properly and will plant in fallopian tubes
3 layers of uterus
outer
- perimetrium - protective covering
- myometrium - smooth muscle
- endometrium - epithelial cells and connective tissue and glands to produce glycogen
inner
Ovary
- covered by capsular structure
- contains follicles suspended in connective tissue
- contains blood vessels
- contains follicles in different stages of growth
Names of follicle development
- primordial follicles
- primary follicles
- mature follicles
- corpus luteum
- corpus albicans
Corpus luteum
- mature follicle that released its egg
- remains and acts as endocrine gland
3 cycles in female body
- hormonal cycle
- ovarian cycle
- uterine cycle
- average 28 days
Ovarian cycle
2 phases
- follicular phase (first 14 days): development of follicles when eggs are growing
- ovulation: 14th day
- luteal phase (last 14 days): egg is released and related to secretory gland
Uterine cycle
3 phases
- menstrual phase (day 1-5): first day of bleeding and shedding of endometrial layer
- proliferative phase: development of growth, layers become wider and blood vessels grow
- secretory phase: further vascularization and development of uterine gland
- menstrual phase and proliferative coincide with follicular phase
- secretory phase coincide with luteal phase