1 Male Reproduction Flashcards
The primary reproductive organs where gametes are produced in males
Testes
What are the accessory structures of the male reproductive system?
Penis Scrotum Vas deferens (ductus deferens) Epididymis Accessory glands
What are the male secondary sexual characteristics?
Facial and body hair
Larger muscle mass
Masculine jaw
Body height
Testes have what 2 compartments and what 3 cell types
Compartments: Seminiferous tubules, Connective tissue
Cell types: Germ cells, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells
The seminiferous tumbles make up _____% of the testes, while the connective tissue makes up ______%.
ST = 80% vs CT = 20%
Which compartment of the testes is the site of spermatogenesis?
Seminiferous tubules
What do Sertoli cells produce?
Antimüllerian hormone
Androgen binding protein
Inhibin
Seminiferous tubule fluid
What do Leydig cells secrete?
Testosterone
Spermatogenesis is a ___________-mediated process that occurs along the length of the seminiferous tubules
Testosterone
The process by which undifferentiated diploid germ cells (___________) become haploid __________.
Spermatogonia —> spermatozoa (sperm)
How long does spermatogenesis take?
~74 days
What are the three stages of spermatogenesis?
- Mitosis (proliferation —> 4 diploid primary spermatocytes)
- Meiosis (2 divisions —> 16 single strand DNA spermatids)
- Spermiogenesis (packaging)
What occurs during the Mitosis stage of spermatogenesis?
Proliferation of diploid germ cells
Two divisions to create 4 diploid primary spermatocytes
Each has double strands of DNA
What happens during the Meiosis stage of spermatogenesis
Undifferentiated diploid germ cells are converted to haploid spermatocytes
Two divisions to create 16 spermatids
Each spermatids has single strand of one chromosome
During embryonic development, germ line cells help form the gonad and become ….
Spermatogonia
At puberty, spermatogonia undergo mitosis divisions and greatly expand their numbers. Some spermatogonia enter the first meiosis division, at which point they become…
Primary spermatocytes
Each primary spermatocyte becomes ________________.
Two secondary spermatocytes
Each secondary spermatocyte ends the second round of meiosis, producing two spermatids
Developing sperm cells do not complete cytokinesis (full cytoplasmic division) during meiosis, therefore the four daughter cells remain connected, forming a __________.
Syncytium
_________ ensures the haploid cells that contain either an X or a Y chromosome have access to all the gene products available in a complete diploid genome
Syncytium
Further maturation of the spermatids create the _________.
Spermatozoa
What establishes the blood-testes barrier?
Tight junctions between Sertoli cells
What is the point of the blood-testes barrier?
Developing sperm move between tight junctions between the Sertoli cells to the lumen, preventing immune cells from accessing genetically variant spermatozoa
Spermatocytes and Sertoli cells form __________ and _________.
Tight junctions and Gap junctions
Gap junctions permit transfer of nutrients
Final release of spermatids requires breakdown of these connections
Early spermatids remain joined by ___________, allowing XY sperm to transport necessary gene products to XX sperm.
Cytoplasmic bridges
What are the functions of Sertoli cells?
Protect sperm and provide nourishment to developing sperm
Absorb excess cytoplasm and wastes from developing sperm
Secrete seminiferous tubule fluid to aid in flushing sperm to the epididymus
Produce androgen binding protein to sequester Testosterone
Release Inhibin, anti-Müllerian factor
Sertoli cells secrete __________ to aid in flushing sperm to epididymus
Seminiferous tubule fluid
Sertoli cells produce __________ to sequester testosterone
Androgen binding protein
Allows for 100x more T in testes than in circulation
Sertoli cells are stimulated by _______ and ________ but release _________
Stimulated by T and FSH
Release Inhibin (negatively feedback to reduce FSH)
During development, Sertoli cells secrete _________.
Anti-Müllerian Factor
Process by which spermatids mature into spermatozoa
Spermiogenesis
What happens to the head of spermatids as they mature into spermatozoa?
Head elongates, most of the cytoplasm is lost
Nucleus remodels —> chromatin condensation
Lysosomes aggregate to form ACROSOME
What happens to the midpiece of spermatids as they mature into spermatozoa?
Mitochondria sequester to midpiece —> powering spearman’s
What happens to the tail of spermatids as they mature into spermatozoa?
Microtubules create the flagellum tail
The process by which mature sperm are extruded from the Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules
Spermiation
From here they pass through the Rete testes for final processing and storage
What propels spermatozoa into the vas deferens?
Contraction of myoepithelial cells
Maturation area located close to the upper portion of each testicle
Epididymus
What do the sperm in the epididymus look like?
Not yet capable of movement or fertilization - require further maturation
Concentrated
Sperm are transferred to here under pressure and by smooth muscle contractions
What are the three steps in spermatogenesis?
- Spermatogenesis: spermatogonia —> spermatozoa
- Spermiogenesis: packaging and maturation of spermatozoa
- Spermiation: release of spermatozoa from Sertoli cells into the lumen of seminiferous tubules
Temporal organization of the spermatogonia cycle for continuous production
Spermatogonia wave
Rate is constant and not accelerated by hormones
Germ cells that fail to differentiate will degenerate and be reabsorbed
Full cycle of spermatogenesis takes ________ and luminal migration to ejaculatory ducts takes ________.
74 days
14 days
How many spermatogonia begin the spermatogenesis process each day
~2 million 😳
How many mature sperm are produced daily?
~128 million
_______ seminiferous tubules per testis allow for _______m of tubule length with different waves of spermatogenesis occurring simultaneously
~500 tubules
~300m
The average sperm count in the western world today is …
Between 20-40 million per ml of ejaculate
When do testes descend into the scrotum?
At ~7th month of gestation
Why does spermatogenesis require cooler temperature (1-2˚C below body temp)?
Prevents lysosomal destruction
Testes are kept cooler than body temp by…
Air around scrotum
Contraction/relaxation of muscles (rugae)
Venous blood flow (countercurrent)
What is the most widespread environmental factor producing low sperm counts?
Interference with ability of the scrotum to cool the testes
Tight clothing, hot tubs, sitting too long (ie truck drivers)
What is the medical term for undescended testes?
Cryptorchidism
Affected individuals are unable to produce viable sperm
Hormonal control of spermatogenesis is through the pulsatile release of _______.
GnRH - Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Stimulates release of FSH and LH from Anterior Pituitary
What is the primary target of FSH in males?
Follicle Stimulating Hormone sensitized Sertoli cells to testosterone
Promotes Inhibin and Androgen binding protein (ABP) secretion from Sertoli cells
What is the primary target of LH in males?
Luteinizing hormone stimulates cholesterol desmolase within Leydig cells to produce testosterone
Testosterone regulates __________ by negative feedback
LH and LSH
Inhibin selectively regulates ________.
FSH
How does testosterone impact embryonic/fetal development
Masculinization of the reproductive tract and external genitals
Promotes descent of testes into scrotum