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Reproduction (Semester 4) > 4.1 Hormonal control of reproduction > Flashcards

4.1 Hormonal control of reproduction Flashcards

1
Q

What is the HPG axis

A

hypothalamus -> anterior pituitary -> gonads

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2
Q

Compare the anterior and posterior pituitary, give 3 hormones released from each

A

Anterior pituitary: GH, FSH, LH

  • Arises from Rathke’s Pouch
  • Not nervous tissue
  • Endocrine gland
  • Mostly ‘trophic’ hormones

Posterior pituitary: Oxytocin, ADH

  • Nervous tissue
  • Neurosecretory gland
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3
Q

What is Oxytocin important in?

A

Hormone release from the PP that is important in reproduction:

  • Social interaction
  • Orgasm
  • Labour
  • Lactation
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4
Q

List 3 types of glycoprotein hormones and what cell type secretes them

A

LH, FSH secreted by gonadotrophs

TSH secreted by thyrotrophs

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5
Q

List 3 types of polypeptide hormones and what cell type secretes them

A

GH secreted by somatotrophs
ACTH secreted by corticotrophs
Prolactin secreted by lactotrophs

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6
Q

Anterior pituitary secretions are controlled by the hypothalamus via releasing hormones, how do these travel?

A

Travel in hypophyseal portal circulation

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7
Q

What is a key releasing hormone of reproduction?

How often is this released?

A

Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH)

Release is pulsatile (about once an hour)

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8
Q

What do pulsatile secretions of GnRH do?

A

stimulates gonadatrophs in anterior pituitary to secrete FSH & LH

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9
Q

FSH and LH act on the gonads, what 2 things does this do?

A

1) Control gamete production

2) Stimulate secretion of gonadal steroids

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10
Q

What do the gonadal steroids act on?

List what these are in both males and females

A

Released from the gonads and act on the reproductive tract

Males: testosterone
Females: oestradiol and progesterone

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11
Q

How do we control the release of GnRH from neurones? (3)

A

1) Influenced by other neurones ➞ KISS 1 neurone
2) Environmental effects eg. body weight (Influence KISS1 or GnRH directly)
3) Feedback from gonadal hormones/sex steroids

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12
Q

What is the effect of testosterone on GnRH?

What is the effect of testosterone on FSH and LH

A

Reduces in both

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13
Q

What are the effects of moderate titres of oestrogen on GnRH and therefore FSH and LH? What type of feedback is this?

What are the effects of moderate titres of oestrogen on GnRH and therefore FSH and LH? What type of feedback is this?

A

Moderate titres of oestrogen reduce GnRH, FSH and LH secretion
• Negative feedback

High titres of oestrogen promote GnRH, FSH and LH secretion
• Positive feedback
• LH ‘surge’

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14
Q

What is the effect of progesterone on oestrogen in females? (explain the effects at moderate and high oestrogen levels)

A

Progesterone increases inhibitory effects of moderate oestrogen

Progesterone prevents positive feedback of high oestrogen ➞ No LH surge

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15
Q

How do oestrogen and progesterone affect GnRH amount and frequency

A

Oestrogen reduces GnRH per pulse (amount)

Progesterone influences frequency of pulses

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16
Q

What do amount and proportion of LH and FSH depend on?

A

Additional signalling molecules acting on gonadotrophs eg. Gonadal steroids, inhibin, activins

(LH and FSH are controlled independently)

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17
Q

Explain the role of Inhibin and state what cells produce this in both males and females

A

The amount of FSH and LH secreted in response to GnRH is reduced by inhibin (Inhibin works MORE on FSH than LH)

Secreted by granulosa cells (f) and Sertoli cells (m)

18
Q

Explain the role of Activins

What produces these?

A

Activins have many local actions but also feedback to the pituitary to activate FSH secretion

Activins are secreted by the gonads and other tissues

19
Q

Explain the role of FSH, what cells do these bind to in males?

A

FSH binds to Sertoli cells to stimulates spermatogenesis

20
Q

Explain the role of LH, what cells do these bind to in males?

What are the 3 things does this result in (in terms of spermatogenesis)

A

LH binds to Leydig cells to secrete testosterone (promotes spermatogenesis) resulting in:

1) Spermatogonial mitotic steps
2) Sertoli cell interactions with gametes
3) Sperm release

21
Q

What 2 hormones can enhance testosterone production?

A

Enhanced by prolactin and inhibin (but these cannot replace LH)

22
Q

What is the role of Testosterone on the HPG axis?

How does this ensure we have the correct levels of testosterone?

A

Testosterone is secreted by Leydig cells in response to LH binding and acts on the reproductive tract

Testosterone negatively feeds back to the Hypothalamus to decrease GnRH secretion

Hence if testosterone levels get high, GnRH and therefore LH levels fall bringing testosterone levels back to normal range

23
Q

How can we measure rate of spermatogenesis in males?

How does this ensure we achieve the correct rate of spermatogenesis?

A

Inhibin secretion is a marker of the rate of spermatogenesis in males

If spermatogenesis speeds up MORE inhibin is secreted which reduces FSH secretion bringing rates back to normal

24
Q

What are the actions of Testosterone on the male reproductive tract?

A

1) Stimulates gamete production
2) Maintains epididymis and vas deferens
3) Maintains prostate, seminal vesicles, bulbo-urethral glands
4) Production of semen
5) Development and maintenance of external genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics
6) Sexual dimorphism throughout the body and behaviour

25
Q

Give 3 environmental factors that affect testosterone production

A

1) Circadian rhythm (testosterone highest early morning)
2) stress hormones
3) Neuronal inputs

26
Q

What is the preparation phase in the female menstrual cycles also known as?

What 3 things occur during this phase?

A

‘Follicular’ or ‘proliferative’ phase

1) Follicles grow in ovary
2) Uterus prepared for sperm transport and implantation of conceptus
3) Changes to facilitate sexual interactions

27
Q

Describe 3 changes in development AND hormones that occur during the beginning of the follicular phase

A

Development

1) Corpus luteum absent
2) Follicles only part developed
3) Little inhibition at hypothalamus or pituitary

Hormonal:

1) follicles secrete very little inhibin
2) Oestrogen and progesterone levels low
3) FSH levels rise

28
Q

Describe 4 hormonal changes that occur during the middle of the follicular phase

Explain what these changes lead to?

A

Hormonal:

1) Oestrogen levels rising
2) Inhibin levels rising
3) LH levels rise (due to oestrogen)
4) FSH rising but less so (due to inhibin)

Leads to: Selective inhibition of FSH so NO new follicles can develop + Oestrogen exerts positive feedback at hypothalamus and pituitary (higher concentrations secreted by later stage follicles)

29
Q

What hormonal change occurs during the pre-ovulatory phase and why?

A

Rising oestrogen levels create a window of opportunity for the LH surge and ovulation

Precise timing within it that is dependent on environment E.g. stress, copulation, circadian rhythms

30
Q

What specific hormone changes are responsible for “ovulation” and why?

What 2 things occur immediately after ovulation?

A

Rise in oestrogen followed by LH surge causes ovulation. This allows a brief period of fertility

After ovulation:

1) Corpus luteum forms spontaneously and begins to secrete progesterone and oestrogen (maintains suppression of FSH)
2) LH is suppressed b/c positive feedback by oestrogen is now inhibited by progesterone

31
Q

What is the waiting phase also known as?

What happens to the corpus luteum during this phase and why?

A

‘Luteal’ or ‘secretory’ phase

Corpus luteum grows and secretes more oestrogen (granulosa luteal cells) and Progesterone (thecal luteal cells). This facilitates placenta formation in endometrium

32
Q

What stimulates the start of a new cycle?

A

After 7-10 days the corpus luteum starts to decrease in size and at day 14 undergoes autophagy. This stops the production of gonadal steroids ➞ stimulates menstruation

When this occurs there is no more inhibition on FSH secretion so FSH levels begins rising and a new cycle begins

33
Q

What hormone changes specifically are responsible for “menstruation”

A

Progesterone and oestrogen titres fall

34
Q

Explain the role of FSH and LH in each phase (3)

What cells do these bind to in females?

A

Follicular phase:
- FSH binds to granulosa cells
- LH binds to Thecal cells (theca interna)
Together these stimulate development of the follicle

Pre-ovulation:
- LH surge stimulates ovulation

Luteal phase: LH maintains corpus luteum

35
Q

What is the dominant gonadal steroid during the follicular phase?

What does this stimulate?

A

oestrogen

1) Fallopian tube function
2) Thickening of endometrium
3) Growth & motility of myometrium
4) Thin alkaline cervical mucus
5) Vaginal changes
6) Changes in skin, hair, metabolism
7) Calcium metabolism

36
Q

What is the dominant gonadal steroid during the luteal phase?

What does this stimulate?

A

Progesterone (acts on oestrogen primed cells)

1) Further thickening of endometrium into secretory form
2) Thickening of myometrium, but reduction of motility
3) Thick, acidic cervical mucus
4) Changes in mammary tissue
5) Increased body temperature
6) Metabolic changes
7) Electrolyte changes

37
Q

Describe the histological gland changes seen during:

1) Early proliferative phase
2) Late proliferative phase
3) Early secretory phase
4) Late secretory phase

A

1) Early proliferative: glands sparse, straight
2) Late proliferative: functionalis has doubled, glands now coiled
3) Early secretory: endometrium maximum thickness, very pronounced coiled glands
4) Late secretory: glands adopt characteristic “saw-tooth” appearance

38
Q

Compare the feedback mechanisms of males vs females

A

Males: negative feedback ONLY
Females: negative AND positive feedback

39
Q

Explain the effects of FSH in females

What cells does this bind to?

A

FSH binds to granulosa cells which causes:

1) granulosa cells to secrete Inhibin
2) continued follicular development
3) increase in granulosa cells and more FSH receptors
4) development of Theca interna (contains LH receptors)

40
Q

Explain the effects of LH in females

What cells does this bind to?

A

Binds to Theca interna around the developing follicle and causes it to secrete oestrogen

41
Q

List 2 things that can influence timing of the female cycle?

A

1) Stress

2) Ovarian follicle quality

42
Q

What happens if conception occurs?

What hormones are secreted here?

A

The developing embryo and the placenta secrete:

1) Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HGC) which preserves the corpus luteum
2) CL continues secretion of progesterone and oestrogen which maintains the uterine lining for implantation until placenta forms and is able to take over

The cycle does NOT start again

Reproduction (Semester 4) (20 decks)

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