Male Reproductive Physiology Lecture (Dr. Lopez) Flashcards
Before getting started: Sex vs. gender; Definitions
β’ SEX: refers to a personβs biological status (male, female, or intersex)
β Indicators of biological sex includes: sex chromosomes, gonads, internal reproductive organs, & external genitalia
β’ GENDER: refers to the attitudes, feelings, & behaviors that a given culture associates with a personβs biological sex
β Gender-normative: Behavior that is compaRble with cultural expectaRons
β Gender nonconformity: refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a personβs biological sex
β’ GENDER IDENTITY: refers to βoneβs sense of oneself as male, female, or transgenderβ (American Psychological AssociaRon, 2006)
β When oneβs gender identity & biological sex are not congruent, the individual may identify as transsexual or as another transgender category (cf. Gainor, 2000)
- GENDER EXPRESSION: ββ¦way in which a person acts to communicate gender within a given cultureβ¦β
- SEXUAL ORIENTATION: refers to the sex of those to whom one is sexually and romantically attracted
Before getting started: Sex; some definitions cont
β’ GENETIC SEX: determined by the sex chromosome (XX β female; XY β male)
β During the first 5 weeks of gestational life, the gonads are bipotenRal (neither male or female)
β Gestational weeks 6 β 7 the testes begin to develop in genetic males
β Gestational week 9 the ovaries begin to develop in geneRc females
β’ GONADAL SEX: testes or ovaries
β’ PHENOTYPIC SEX: Physical characteristics of the internal genital tract & the external genitalia
β Determined by the hormonal output of the gonads
Puberty in males & females is initiated by the pulsatile secretion of GnRH, which drive the pulsatile secretion of FSH & LH
β’ PUBERTY:
β One of the earliest event is the appearance of large
nocturnal pulses of LH during REM sleep
β Pulsatile secretion of FSH & LH stimulates secretion of gonadal steroid hormones, Testosterone, & Estradiol
β’ ο©INCREASE Circulating levels of the sex steroid hormones are then responsible for the appearance of the secondary sex characteristics at puberty
β If a GnRH analogue is administered in INTERMITTENT PULSES to replicate the normal pulsatile secretion, PUBERTY is INITIATED & reproductive function is established
β If a LONG-ACTING GnRH analogue is administered, PUBERTY is NOT INITIATED
Puberty in males & females is initiated by the pulsatile secretion of GnRH, which drive the pulsatile secretion of FSH & LH CONT
β The CNS & nutritional status may alter the onset of puberty
β’ Extreme STRESS or CALORIC DEPRIVATION in girls DELAYS the Onset of Puberty
β’ MELATONIN may be a natural INHIBITOR of GnRH Release
β Secreted by the Pineal Gland
β May be a Natural INHIBITOR of GnRH release
Β» Melatonin levels are HIGHEST during Childhood & DECLINE in Adulthood
β’ DECLINE might release an INHIBITION of GnRH secretion
Β» Removal of the Pineal gland precipitates EARLY Puberty
Anatomy of the Male Reproductive Tract
- TESTES: two main functions are SPERMATOGENESIS & SECRETION of TESTOSTERONE
- SCROTUM: its lower temperature is essential for spermatogenesis (1 Β° or 2 Β°C below body temperature )
- EPIDIDYMIS: primary location for the maturation & storage of sperm
β’ VAS DEFERENS:
β Provides another storage area for sperm (AMPULLA)
β Secretes fluid rich in CITRATE & FRUCTOSE
- SEMINAL VESICLES: Secretes fluid rich in CITRATE, FRUCTOSE, PROSTAGLANDINS, & FIBRINOGEN
- PROSTATE GLAND: Secretes MILKY AQUEOUS SOLUTION. rich in Citrate, Calcium & Enzymes
Anatomy of the Male Reproductive Tract CONT
β’ The SEMINIFEROUS TUBULE: Epithelium formed by the SERTOLI Cells, with interspersed germ cells
β SPERMATOGONIA: most IMMATURE germ cells, located near the PERIPHERY of the tubule
β SPERMATOZOA: MATURE Germ cells, located near the LUMEN of the Tubule
β’ LEYDIG CELLS: interstitial cells that lie BETWEEN the Tubules
*** Adult testis: 80% SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES & 20% CONNECTIVE TISSUE interdispersed with Leydig cells!
General functions of Sertoli & Leydig cells
1) SERTOLI CELLS:
β Provide nutrients to the
differentiating sperm
β Form Tight junctions with each other, creating a barrier between testes & bloodstream
β’ BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER: imparts selective Permeability
a) Admits certain substances to cross (e.g. testosterone) but prohibits noxious substances
β Secrete an Aqueous Fluid into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules
a) Helps to TRANSPORT Sperm through the tubules into the epididymis
2) LEYDIG CELLS:
β Synthesis & Secretion of Testosterone
Testes secrete several Male Sex Hormones
- Androgens secreted by the testes include: Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, & Androstenedione
- Testosterone is the MOST ABUNDANT
- However, in Target Tissues, much of the testosterone is eventually converted into the MORE ACTIVE hormone Dihydrotestosterone
Leydig cells & Steroidogenesis
β’ In the testis, the main steroidogenic cells are the LEYDIG Cells
β’ Two distinct populations of Leydig cells that arise during development: FETAL & ADULT Leydig cells
β FETAL Leydig cells are responsible for MASCULINIZING the Male Urogenital tract & INDUCING testis descent
a) These cells ATROPHY shortly after BIRTH & DO NOT contribute to the Adult Leydig cell population
β ADULT Leydig cells derive from undifferentiated precursors present after birth & become FULLY Steroidogenic AT Puberty
β The differentiation of BOTH Leydig cell populations is Controlled by Locally PRODUCED Paracrine Factors & by Endocrine Hormones
Leydig cells & Steroidogenesis CONT
1) Leydig cells Synthesize CHOLESTEROL DE NOVO
β They can also acquire cholesterol from the circulation, through Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) receptors &, to a lesser extent, through High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) receptors
2) Leydig cells STORE Cholesterol as CHOLESTEROL ESTERASE
β FREE cholesterol is generated within the Testis, particularly in Leydig cells, by a Cholesterol Hormone-Sensitive Lipase (HSL)
a) HSL converts CHOLESTEROL ESTERS to FREE Cholesterol for androgen production
β Cholesterol is then transferred within the mitochondrial membranes via the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR)
3) In Leydig cells, Cholesterol is converted to PREGNENOLONE
Testosterone (T)
- MAJOR Androgenic Hormone
- Synthesized & Secreted by the Leydig cells of the Testes
β’ The Testes LACK 21 Ξ²-HYDROXYLASE & 11 Ξ²-HYDROXYLASE
β NO Glucocorticoids or MineralocorRcoids are synthesized
β’ The Testes have an additional enzyme: 17Ξ²-HYDROXYLSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE
β Converts ANDROSTENEDIONE to TESTOSTERONE
β End product of steroid synthesis in the testes is Testosterone NOT dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) & androstenedione, like in the Adrenal Gland
β’ In the Lumen of Seminiferous Tubules, Testosterone is concentrated by binding to ANDROGEN BINDING PROTEIN (ABP)
β’ Testosterone is NOT ACTIVE in all androgenic Target Tissues
β In some Tissues, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the ACTIVE Androgen (E.g.
Prostate Gland in the adult & external genitalia of the male fetus, skin, liver)
β 5Ξ±-REDUCTASE, in Peripheral Tissue, converts Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone
β’ Most of the circulating Testosterone is bound to Plasma Proteins & Albumin
β SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG)
Production of Estrogen in the Male
- In addition to Testosterone, small amounts of Estrogens are formed in the male
- Exact source of Estrogen is UNKNOWN
β’ In the fluid of the Seminiferous tubules, the [Estrogens] is quite HIGH
β The source of this estrogen might be the Sertoli cells & might be the product of the CONVERSION of Testosterone to Estradiol, mediated by AROMATASE
β Potential IMPORTANT role in Spermatogenesis
a) Human Sperm cells express at least one isoform of the ESTROGEN RECEPTOR (ER)
β’ Much larger amounts of Estrogens are formed from Testosterone & Androstanediol in other Tissues of the body, especially the liver
β Accounts for as much as 80% of total male estrogen PRODUCTION!!!!!!!!
Biosynthetic Pathway o Androgens
1) MITOCHONDRIAL PATHWAY FOR TESTOSTERONE SYNTHESIS: Cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450SCC) enzyme removes the side-chain (carbons 22 to 27) from the carbon at position 20 of cholesterol
2) RATE LIMITING STEP IN SYNTHESIS OF TESTOSTERONE: Conversion of CHOLESTEROL to PREGNOLONE
*****An important RATE LIMITING step is mediated by the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR)
Β - Transfers CHOLESTEROL from Inner to Outer Mitochondrial membrane
Synthesis and Secretion of Testosterone occurs in Leydig Cells
β’ Leydig cell is the PRIMARY Endocrine cell of the Testis
β Located in the PERITUBULAR Compartment
β’ Testosterone diffuses BOTH into the Neighboring Seminiferous Tubules & into the Peritubular Capillary network to be carried into the Peripheral circulation
β In Seminiferous Tubules, Testosterone is concentrated by binding to ANDROGEN BINDING PROTEIN (ABP)
β T is carried in the Peripheral Circulation by SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG) & ALBUMIN
β’ The Leydig cell makes limited amounts of DHT & ESTRADIOL-17Ξ², but considerably MORE of these two steroids is made by PERIPHERAL CONVERSION
LH stimulates the conversion of Cholesterol to Pregnenolone & regulates the OVERALL RATE of Testosterone synthesis by the Leydig cell
LH promotes pregnenolone synthesis in two ways:
Β1) INCREASES AFFINITY of P450SCC enzyme for Cholesterol
Β
2) Long-term action in which it stimulates Synthesis of P450SCC enzyme
***Note: Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme is commonly referred to as P450scc. Another name for this enzyme is CHOLESTEROL DESMOLASE!!!!
Testosterone production
β’ Production begins in FETUS at 14-15 weeksβ gestation
β’ After production, Androgens diffuse to target cells &
bind to Androgen Receptors (AR)
β AR are found in Prostate, Testis (Sertoli, Leydig & myoid cells) Epididymis, Seminal Vesicles
β Non-reproductive Tissue where AR can be found include: Neurons in CNS, Anterior Pituitary, Thyroid Skin, Adrenal Cortex, Liver, Kidney Tubules, Bladder, Cardiac & Striated Muscle, Bone, Vasculature
β There are also AR in female, in ovary (Interstitial & Granulosa cells), Mammary glands, Uterus
β’ Androgen receptor COMPLEX is a Nuclear Receptor which DIRECTS protein synthesis
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production
- DHT also binds to androgen receptors, however with GREATER AFFINITY
- Plays important role in causing CHANGES at Puberty
- Deficiency of 5Ξ±-REDUCTASE results in AMBIGUOUS External Genitalia
Fates of Testosterone
β’ As Testosterone enters the Peripheral Circulation, it quickly reaches equilibrium with serum proteins
β ~ 60% of circulaRng T is bound to SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG)
β ~ 38% of circulating Testosterone is bound to ALBUMIN
β ~ 2% remains as FREE Testosterone, which is the MOST IMPORTANT biologically form
β’ Testosterone and its metabolites are EXCRETED PRIMARILY in the Urine
β ~ 50% of excreted androgens are found as Urinary 17- KETOSTEROIDS
β Remainder being CONJUGATED Androgens or DIOL or TRIOL derivatives