12.2&3 MALE REPRODUCTION - SPERM PRODUCTION, EJACULATION, TESTOSTERONE Flashcards
3 TIERS of REPRODUCTIVE AXIS in MALES
HYPOTHALAMUS
PITUITARY (ANTERIOR)
- LH, FSH
TESTIS
-TESTOSTERONE and production spermatozoa
in HPT AXIS what is the role of the HYPOTHALAMUS
RELEASE GnRH (GONADOTROPHIN RELEASING HORMONE)
into hypothalamohypophysial shunt (portal system of blood vessels)
to PITUITARY
in HPT AXIS what is the role of the ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
GONADOTROPES SECRETE LH and FSH
in response to GnRH (hypothalamus)
in HPT AXIS what is the role of the LEYDIG CELLS
in INTERSTITIUM of TESTIS
- STIMULATED by LH to produce TESTOSTERONE
in HPT AXIS what is the role of the SERTOLI CELLS
STIMULATED by FSH to SUPPORT SPERMATOGENESIS in the seminiferous epithelium (surround spermatogonia)
what is STIMULATED by LH in males
TESTOSTERONE PRODUCTION in LEYDIG CELLS (has LH RECEPTORS)
what is STIMULATED by FSH in males
SUPPORT of SPERMATOGENESIS by SERTOLI CELLS
and synthesise ABP (protein)
when LH BINDS to LH RECEPTORS on LEYDIG CELLS what is STIMULATED in order to produce Testosterone
ADENYLATE-CYCLASE
- activates cAMP
- protein kinases
- cholesterol esterases
- free cholesterol
(pregnenolone)
testosterone
ORIGINS of TESTOSTERONE
95% from TESTIS
5% from other sources including:
- ADRENAL CORTEX
- ADIPOSE TISSUE
- SKIN
- BRAIN
- MUSCLE
FUNCTIONS of TESTOSTERONE in FOETAL LIFE
- SEX DIFFERENTIATION
- DEVELOPMENT of ACCESSORY SEX ORGANS
- DESCENT of TESTIS
(foetal leydig cells regress after birth)
FUNCTIONS of TESTOSTERONE in PUBERTY
- DEVELOPMENT of SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS including:
change in BRAIN, VOICE
Increase HEIGHT, MUSCLE mass, FACIAL hair
Production of SPERM and SEXUAL FUNCTION
97% of TESTOSTERONE is…
PROTEIN-BOUND
MAJORITY of TESTOSTERONE is BOUND to
SEX HORMONE-BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG)
- strongly
- INACTIVE
some bound to ALBUMIN (less strongly, some activity)
which TESTOSTERONE is the MOST ACTIVE but difficult to measure
FREE TESTOSTERONE (not protein-bound)
TESTOSTERONE bound to SHBG are
INACTIVE
how to MEASURE BIOAVAILABLE TESTOSTERONE
- measure FREE fraction and those BOUND to ALBUMIN
- using VERMEULEN EQUATION, can be estimated from testosterone, SHBG and albumin concs
ACTIVTY of TESTOSTERONE is mostly due to its ACTIVE FORM called
DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE (DHT)
what is TESTOSTERONE CONVERTED to
DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE (DHT)
- ACTIVE FORM
how is TESTOSTERONE CONVERTED to DHT (using what)
ENZYME 5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE
5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE may be
- Deficient - leading to lack of masculinisation
- Target for drugs in BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
where does SPERMATOGENESIS happen
SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES of TESTES
SPERMATOGENESIS is STIMULATED by
ANTERIOR PITUITARY GONADOTROPHIC hormones:
- LH and FSH
SPERMATOGENESIS occurs at average age
13
SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES SUPPORTING cells:
- SUSTENTACULAR CELLS of the basement membrane
- SERTOLI CELLS
GERMINAL ELEMENTS of SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES comprise of EPITHELIAL CELLS including:
- Slowly dividing PRIMITIVE STEM CELL population
- Rapidly proliferating SPERMATOGONIA
- SPERMATOCYTES undergoing Meiosis
- metamorphosing SPERMATIDS
INNERMOST LAYER of SEMINIFEROUS TUBULE consists of 2 CELLS
- SPERMATOGONIA (primitive germ cells)
- SERTOLI CELLS (Surround germ cells, offering STRUCTURAL SUPPORT)