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Week 12- SHANE > Male Reproductive Histology > Flashcards

Male Reproductive Histology Flashcards

(66 cards)

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1
Q

What are the structures involved in the pathway of sperm?

A

Tubuli Recti –> Rete Testes –> Efferent Ductules –> Epididymus –> Vas Deferens –>
Urethra

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2
Q

What two structures in the sperm pathway have different morphology than the others?

A

tubuli recti and rete testes

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3
Q

What kinds of cells do tubuli recti contain?

A

ONLY sertoli cells

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4
Q

What is the function of the tubuli recti?

A

Propel developing sperm

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5
Q

What are the rete testes lined by?

A

lined by simple cuboidal epithelium

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6
Q

What are the initial cells in spermotogenesis and where are they found in the testis?

A

spermotogonia. Found farthest from lumen and always near outside of seminiferous tubules

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7
Q

What process do spermotogonia divide from?

A

mitosis (they are stem cells)

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8
Q

What do spermatogonia differentiate into and how do these new cells divide?

A

spermocytes; meiosis (first meiotic division of sperm development)

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9
Q

What are the two types of spermocytes?

How long are each present?

A

Primary- around for ~3 weeks and undergo the first meiotic division (Nucleus has a “checkerboard” appearance due to chromosome condensation)

Secondary- undergoes second meiotic division
Present short period of time because division occurs soon after formation

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10
Q

Secondary spermocytes divide to become what?

A

spermatids

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11
Q

Do spermatids divide anymore once formed? How do they develop?

A

No. Undergo maturation to become mature sperm

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12
Q

What is the chromosome composition (haploid or diploid) of spermatids?

A

Contain haploid number of chromosomes

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13
Q

What are the two kinds of spermatids?

A

Early: round
Late: typical torpedo shape

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14
Q

What is Spermiogenesis?

A

portion of spermatogenesis where spermatids differentiate to form mature spermatozoa

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15
Q

What are the phases of spermiogenesis?

A

1) Golgi phase
2) Cap phase
3) Acrosome phase
4) Maturation phase

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16
Q

What are the major events of golgi phase?

A
  • Accumulation of granules in Golgi to start making acrosome
  • Centrioles go to posterior pole of sperm to start making the flagellum

during this stage “polarity” is established

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17
Q

What are the major events of cap phase?

A
  • Acrosome spread over anterior half of nucleus (acrosome = organelle in sperm developed from Golgi)
  • Nucleus condenses
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18
Q

What are the major events of acrosome phase?

A
  • Sperm re-orients so the tail is in lumen
  • Plasma membrane grows posteriorly to cover the growing flagellum
  • Mitochondria form a tight bundle around growing flagellum
  • Nucleus flattens and moves near plasma membrane
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19
Q

What are the major events of maturation phase?

A
  • Excess cytoplasm (called residual body) pinched off (in order to make a more aerodynamic shape)
  • Sperm loses its connection with its neighbor
  • Released into lumen (NON-MOTILE!!!)
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20
Q

What does the head region of amateur sperm contain?

A

nucleus and acrosome

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21
Q

What does the neck region of amateur sperm contain?

A

centrioles

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22
Q

What are the parts of the tail of a mature sperm?

A

1) middle piece
2) principal piece
3) end piece

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23
Q

What does the middle piece of the tail of a mature sperm?

A

axoneme+ enveloping fibrous sheath + mitochondria (for energy source to the cell)

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24
Q

What does the principal piece of the tail of a mature sperm?

A

axoneme + fibrous sheath

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25
What does the end piece of the tail of a mature sperm?
``` only axoneme (axoneme = inner, cytoskeletal core of flagellum) ```
26
What is the longest portion of the tail of a mature sperm?
principal
27
What acrosome enzymes allow the sperm cell to penetrate the zona pellucida of the ovum?
neuraminidase
28
What are seminiferous tubules lined by?
a basal lamina
29
What is the organization of cells in the seminiferous tubules?
1) Cells nearest basal lamina are spermatogonia 2) Spermatids near lumen while spermatocytes are intermediate 3) Other cell type is the Sertoli cell (aka nurse cell) 4) Spermatids are often embedded in Sertoli cells and all stages of developing sperm form tight connections with Sertoli cells
30
How are sertoli cells shaped?
irregular columnar shape w/ columnar shaped nucleus Stain darker than the surrounding sperm cells
31
Do sertoli cells extend from the basal lamina of the tubule to the lamina?
Yes
32
T or F. Neighboring sertoli cells are not bound together
F. Neighboring sertoli cells are bound together by specialized junctions
33
What are the functions of Adult Sertoli cells?
1) Provide nutrients to developing sperm 2) Eliminate waste from developing sperm 3) Phagocytose residual bodies and abnormal sperm 4) Secrete fluids that help sperm move (because the sperm cells are still not motile at this point) 5) Secrete the hormone inhibin 6) Secretes Androgen binding protein that concentrates testosterone (testes has about 200 x amount as in bloodstream) 7) Form the blood-testes barrier (by tight junctions between)
34
What is the function of the blood-testes barrier?
Protects developing sperm from the immune system (failure is one cause of infertility) and protects developing sperm from blood borne substances
35
What stages of sperm development (i.e. spermatogonia, spermocyte, spermatid, etc.) are outside the blood-testes barrier?
just the spermatogonia
36
Where are myloid and leydig cells found in the testes?
outside the seminiferous tubules
37
What is the role of myloid cells?
these are found directly around seminiferous tubules and are composed (at least partially) of smooth muscle to contract and create peristalsis to move sperm
38
What is the role of leydig cells? When are they active?
Secrete testosterone Begin to secrete during 5th month of gestation & then are inactive until puberty
39
Men also have LH and FSH. What does LH do?
acts to increase production of testosterone from leydig cells
40
What do FSH and testosterone do?
increase spermatogenesis
41
Where does Inhibin come from?
Sertoli cells
42
What does Inhibin do?
decreases FSH | -Also negative feedback loop with Testosterone
43
What are some of the side effects of anabolic steroids?
- Are synthestic testosterone - Side effects include testicular atrophy and inhibition of spermatogenesis - Inhibits production of natural testosterone
44
What is the current (2015) approach to hormonal approach to male contraception?
based on suppression of gonadotropins and thus of testicular function and spermatogenesis, and has been investigated for several decades. This approach can achieve sufficient suppression of spermatogenesis for effective contraception in most men, but not all; the basis for these men responding insufficiently is unclear. non-hormonal approaches also being investigated
45
Why do the testes descend into the scrotum during development?
to keep cooler (needs to be about 2 ̊C cooler than body temp.)
46
Does a single or multiple rete testes empty into a efferent ductule?
Multiple (there are only about 20)
47
What is the epithelium of efferent ductules?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium with groups of tall and shorter cells so has an undulating highly irregular appearance
48
Which of the epithelial cells of the efferent ductules are ciliated?
Tall cells are ciliated while short cells typically not
49
What do efferent ductules empty into?
epididymus
50
What are the functions of efferent ductules?
1) Move sperm via cilia and surrounding smooth muscle | 2) Absorb fluid secreted in testes
51
What is the epithelium of the epididymus?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia and basal cells
52
What is the most important thing that happens in the epididymus?
sperm gain MOTILITY
53
Where do the layers of the smooth muscle in the epididymus change the most along its length (head, body, tail)
most- tail | least- head
54
What are the main functions of the epididymus?
1) absorb fluid 2) Phagocytose degenerating sperm and residual bodies 3) Secretes substances (e.g. sialic acid) that aid in sperm maturation and allow sperm to become MOTILE
55
The tail of the epididymus is a reservoir for what?
mature sperm
56
What are the structural differences between the epididymus and the vas deferens?
Similar in morphology to the epididymus except: 1) Basal cells more distinct 2) MUCH more muscular (Lumen often irregularly shaped due to muscle contractions)
57
Where is the tunica albuginea thickest in the penis?
around the corpora cavernosa
58
What is Erectile tissue?
venous spaces lined by endothelial cells in the penis During erection get increased blood flow into the arteries and ultimately into the venous sinuses
59
What is the significance of the tunica albuginea being thicker around the corpora cavernosa than the corpus spongiosum?
Because the T. albuginea is thinner around the spongiosum, there is less pressure so the urethra is not shut during erection
60
How does Viagra work?
• parasympathetic fibers release acetylcholine • acetylcholine stimulates endothelial cells of the vascular spaces to release nitric oxide • nitric oxide stims smooth muscle cells to produce cGMP, which causes smooth muscle cells to relax Viagra inhibits the enzyme that degrades cGMP
61
What is the epithelium of the seminal vesicles?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium (takes tortorous route)
62
What is the main secretion of the seminal vesicles?
fructose for energy (Also secretes other sugars, amino acids and prostaglandins).
63
What is the epithelium of the prostate gland?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Also has smooth muscle to help move semen and irregular shaped lumen
64
What are prostatic concretions?
concentric layered structures likely formed by hardened secretions of the prostate. (corpora amylacea= concretions) Concretions increase in number with increasing age
65
What does the prostate secrete?
Secretes enzymes that help to keep semen liquid (e.g. fibrinolysin) and to make it alkaline Makes citric acid that sperm use to make ATP (Tends to hypertrophy in older men—Test via PSA (prostate specific antigen)
66
Male menopause is aka?
andropause (affected negatively by obesity)

Week 12- SHANE (3 decks)

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