Reproduction & Pregnancy

Question 1

What does inhibin do in males? what produces it?

Answer 1

• inhibits FSH and LH release from the anterior pituitary

- produced in testes

Question 2

What area of the brain sets the rhythmicity of the Hypothalamic-pituitary-teste axis?

Answer 2

-suprachiasmatic nucleus

Question 3

What does Kisspeptin do?

Answer 3

-stimulates the release of GnRH from the hypothalamus

Question 4

What hormone drives the leydig cells to produce testosterone in fetal development?

Answer 4

-Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) made by the placenta

Question 5

What hormone is integral in the development of the rete-testes to the ejaculatory ducts?

Answer 5

-testosterone (regular, not DHT)

Question 6

What is the “two cell-two hormone” concept in males?

Answer 6

• LH stimulates Testosterone production in leydig cell
• Leydig cell ships testosterone to sertoli cell, which makes the testosterone into estradiol
• estradiol is sent back to the leydig cell where it is needed

Question 7

What is the biologically active form of testosterone?

Answer 7

Dihydrotestosterone

Question 8

What regulates the female HPG axis?

Answer 8

• hypothalamic pulse generator
• NTs and opioids
• Feedback by ovarian steroids

Question 9

What is the pulsatile mode of the follicular phase?

Answer 9

-increased frequency

Question 10

What is the pulsatile mode of the Luteal phase?

Answer 10

-increased amplitude

Question 11

What hormones cause later proliferation of the theca cells and the granulosa cells in the developing ovarian follicle?

Answer 11

-combined effects of LH and FSH

Question 12

What hormones are responsible for primordial follicle –> primary follicle?

Answer 12

none known

Question 13

What hormones are responsible for initial granulosa cell developmnet/proliferation in the ovarian follicle?

Answer 13

-FSH

Question 14

Which cells of the follicle produce estrogens?

Answer 14

-granulosa cells

Question 15

What follicle makes progesterone?

Answer 15

-corpus luteum

Question 16

What makes androgens in the female?

Answer 16

• theca cells (follicle)

- corpus luteum + stromal cells

Question 17

What are the three estrogens?

Answer 17

• estradiol
• estrone
• Estriol

Question 18

What are the important functions of estrogen?

Answer 18

• development of secondary sexual features
• epithelial proliferation in reproductive tract
• downregulate bone catabolism
• raise HDL, lower LDL

Question 19

What are the important functions of Progesterone?

Answer 19

• initiate and maintain pregnancy
• “antagonizes” estrogen
• Breast development
• Thermoregulation

Question 20

What is the “two cell-two hormone” concept in females?

Answer 20

• Progesterone from Granulosa cell goes to Theca cell to become Androstenedione
• Androstenedione goes back to granulosa cell to become estradiol
• Granulosa cells don’t have 17-hydroxylase

Question 21

What may be the most important cause of the surge of LH for ovulation?

Answer 21

• small rise in kisspeptin

- Estrogen rise is inhibitory at first, but after a certain point becomes stimulatory

Question 22

What are the hormonal changes of Menopause? Why?

Answer 22

• elevation of FSH, LH, and androgens

- no longer have follicles to produce feedback

Question 23

What are the 6 important placental hormones?

Answer 23

GnRH

Estrogens and Progesterone

hCG

hPL

CRH

IGF-I and-II

Question 24

What makes hCG upon implantation?

Answer 24

-trophoblast

Question 25

What are the functions of hCG during pregnancy?

Answer 25

• maintain progesterone production by the Corpus Luteum (takes over for LH)
• Activate Leydig Cells in male fetus
• Inhibition of immunoreactivity

Question 26

What are the functions of Human Placental Lactogen (HPL)

Answer 26

-differentiation of mammary glands

• fuel balance: glucose intolerance and fat metabolism
• blunts glucose utilization in mother so fetus can have it

Question 27

What are the functions of the Feto-Placental Unit?

Answer 27

-early steroidogenesis: Corpus Luteum & Placenta

Question 28

What are the limitations of the Feto-Placental Unit?

Answer 28

• cholesterol synthesis

- No 17-hydroxylase

Question 29

What is the top doggy fetal growth factor?

Answer 29

-insulin