83 - Male Reproduction Flashcards
Recall: what hypothalamic nucleus releases GnRH (AKA LHRH)?
PON (pre-optic nucleus)
High pulse frequency of GnRH stimulates the release of _____, low pulse stimulates the release of _____.
- LH - FSH
What does the release of LH stimulate in males? Females? (Where does this occur?)
Stimulates steroidogenesis in ovaries and testes
What does the release of FSH stimulate in males? Females? (Where does this occur?)
Stimulates gametogenesis in ovaries and testes
What is the role of Kisspeptin?
Required to initiate increased GnRH release at the time of puberty - presumed signal for pubertal onset.
What is the role of gonadal steroidal hormones (testosterone, estrogen) in regulating the HPA axis?
Exert negative and positive feedback on GnRH (many factors affect GnRH, such as PRL, opioids, stress, and most of them inhibit it)
Mutations in the KISS1 receptor (binds kisspeptin) causes:
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
How does PRL affect GnRH?
Inhibits
What is the role of inhibin B? Where is it expressed?
- Specific inhibitor for FSH - Gonads
What specific cells does inhibin B bind to inhibit FSH synthesis?
Inhibits FSH-beta subunit synthesis in gonadotropes
What is the role of activin? Where is it expressed?
- Activator of FSH and LH - Pituitary and gonads
What specific location does activin bind to activate FSH and LH synthesis?
Stimulates FSH-beta, LH-beta, and GnRH receptor synthesis in pituitary
Why am I referring to FSH-beta and LH-beta, rather than just FSH and LH, when speaking of what activin and inhibin affect?
The alpha subunit of FSH, LH, TSH, and hCG are all the same, but the beta subunits differ
What cells form the blood-testes-barrier?
Sertoli cells (AKA nurse cells, nurse the sperm)
Sertoli cells have high affinity ________ receptors. Leydig cells have high affinity ________ receptors.
FSH LH
Name all of the effects that FSH has on sertoli cells (7).
- Stimulates spermatogenesis 2. Increases sperm motility 3. Stimulates growth of seminiferous tubules 4. Stimulates androgen-binding protein (ABP) 5. Stimulates aromatase 6. Stimulates inhibin 7. Stimulates growth factors
What is the purpose of the ABP released by Sertoli cells?
Maintains high local T levels
What is the function of the aromatase released by Sertoli cells?
Converts testosterone to estradiol
What is the function of the inhibin released by Sertoli cells?
Inhibits FSH release (negative feedback mech)
Name all of the effects that LH has on Leydig cells (4).
- Stimulates steroidogenesis from cholesterol 2. Makes androgens 3. Stimulates StAR protein (rate-limiting) 4. Stimulates Leydig cell growth
How many carbons are contained in androgens?
19 C
What (4) products of Leydig and Sertoli cells can negatively feed back on gonadotrophs?
- Testosterone 2. Inhibin (Leydig) 3. DHT 4. Estradiol (E2)
Describe the pathway of androgen synthesis (don’t name enzymes).
- Cholesterol to pregnenolone 2. Pregnenolone to progesterone 3. Progesterone to 17(OH)-progesterone 4. 17(OH)-progesterone to androstenedione 5. Androstenedione to testosterone (T) 6. Testosterone to Estradiol + dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
In what 4 tissue types are testosterone precursors made?
Extragonadal tissues: brain, adrenal, skin, adipose tissue
What organ is the primary source of circulating T?
Testes
In circulation, T is bound to:
SHBG (very little free T in the blood)
Once inside cells, T can be converted into either ___________ or ____________.
- DHT - Estrogens
Metabolized T forms:
Diols, triols
What cells does androgen synthesis occur in?
Leydig cells
What receptor does T bind?
Androgen receptor (AR) - A nuclear steroid receptor
What receptor does DHT bind?
Androgen receptor (AR) - A nuclear steroid receptor
Which has higher affinity for the androgen receptor, T or DHT?
DHT
What is DHEA? Where is it produced?
- Weak androgen - Produced in zona reticularis
How is DHEAS formed?
Sulfation of DHEA
What other hormone can DHEA be converted to? Via what hormone?
Androstenedione via 3beta-HSD enzyme
What important hormone is androstenedione directly converted into? Via what hormone?
T via 17beta-HSD (can also be converted to estrone)
What is the most abundant hormone in young adults?
DHEA
Recall: what enzyme converts T to estradiol?
Aromatase
Recall: DHT binds w/higher affinity to AR than does T. Which has the higher potency, T or DHT?
DHT
What enzyme is required to convert T to DHT? Where is this found?
5alpha-reductase - Genital skin, prostate
3beta-diol is converted from what hormone? What is significant about 3beta-diol?
- DHT - Binds estrogen receptor (even though it’s an androgen product)
What enzyme is responsible for converting prenenolone to progesterone?
3beta-HSD
What gene/enzyme is responsible for converting progesterone to 17(OH) progesterone?
CYP17 17-hydroxylase
What enzyme is responsible for converting androstenedione to T?
Type III 17beta-HSD