CH 5 Regulation of Reproduction - Nerves, Hormones, and Target Tissues Flashcards
What are simple neural reflexes?
Nerves release messages (neurotransmitters) directly onto target cells
Direct innervation of the target tissue by a single neuron (neurosecretory cell)
What are neuroendocrine reflexes?
A substance (message) released by a neuron (a neurohormone) enters the blood and acts on the target tissue.
No direct innervation
Order of neural reflex
Sensory (afferent nerves) –> synapse –> interneurons in spinal cord –> synapse –> efferent nerves –> neural action –> target tissue
What is a neurotransmitter?
Substance of small molecular weight which is released from nerve terminals that causes other nerves to “fire” or causes contraction of smooth muscle that stimulates reproductive tract
Order of neuroendocrine reflex
Sensory (afferent) nerves –> synapse –> interneurons in spinal cord –> synapse –> efferent nerves –> synapse –> hypothalamus –> hormonal action –> target tissue
What is postsynaptic action potential?
“fixing of a nerve”
What do excitatory neurons do?
Release excitatory neurotransmittors
^ probability of nerve “firing”
What do inhibitory neurons do?
Release inhibitory neurotransmitters
v probability of a nerve “firing.”
What types of neurons do neuroendocrine reflexes utilize?
excitatory neurons
What is the hypothalamus?
Neural control center for reproductive hormones
Complex portion of brain consisting of clusters of nerve cell bodies (hypothalamic nuclei)
What do hypothalamic nuclei surround?
Surround cavity in the center of the brain - 3rd ventricle
What 2 groups are important in reproduction?
- surge center
- tonic center
What is the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system?
Axons from surge center and tonic centers extends into pituitary stalk - nerve endings terminate on a highly specialized capillary network
Where is another center located and what does it produce?
Periventricular nucleus (PVN)
Produces oxytocin
What does surge center and tonic center produce?
These secrete gonadotropin-released hormone (GnRH)
How does endocrine control work (fast or slow)?
“slow acting”
What is a hormone?
A substance produced by a gland that acts on a remote tissue (target tissue) to bring about a change in tissue
What is the half-life?
Time required for one-half of a quantity of a hormone to disappear from the blood or from the body
What are the characteristics of reproductive hormones?
- act in minute quantities
- short half-lives
- bind to specific receptors
- regulate intracellular biochemical reactions
What must a hormone do to act?
For a hormone to act, must interact with a RECEPTOR. So, in order to a hormone to act on a specific target tissue, that tissue MUST contain a RECEPTOR. Binding of a HORMONE to its RECEPTOR induces a series of changes to the cell containing the RECEPTOR. These changes result in the cell performing a function.
What are hormones classified by?
Hormones can be classified by source, target tissue, and primary actions
Where to reproductive hormones originate from?
- hypothalamus
- anterior and posterior pituitary
- gonads
- uterus
- placenta
Where are hypothalamic hormones produced? What is their function?
Produced by neurons in the hypothalamus
Cause release of other hormones by the anterior pituitary gland
What are hypothalamic hormones also referred to as? What size are they?
Also called neuropeptides.
Generally less than 20 amino acids
What is an example of hypothalamic hormones?
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Where are pituitary hormones released?
Released into blood from anterior and posterior pituitary glands
What are examples of pituitary hormones?
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Prolactin
Oxytocin (primary hormone from posterior pituitary)
Where do gonadal hormones originate from and what is their function?
Originate from the gonads
Affect function of hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and tissues of the reproductive tract. Induce secondary sex characteristics.
Examples of ovary hormones
estrogens, progestogens, inhibin, some testosterone, oxytocin, and relaxin
Examples of testes hormones
testosterone and other androgens, inhibin, and some estrogens
Examples of uterus hormones
Prostaglandin F2a
Examples of placenta hormones
progesterone, estrogen, equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCg), humane chorionic gonadotropin (hcG)
What are the 3 ways in which hormones can act?
- Autocrine - a cell (tissue) produces a hormone that acts on the same cell/tissue
- Paracrine - a cell (tissue) produces a hormone that acts on a nearby cell
- Endocrine - a cell (tissue) produces a hormone that acts on a remote cell tissue. Generally enters blood to get there.
What do reproductive hormones function as?
- neurohormones
- releasing factors for other hormones
- gonadotropins
- steroids (sexual promoters)
- pregnancy maintenance hormones
- luteolytic hormones
What are neurohormones?
Synthesized by neurons and released directly into blood. Cause a response in target tissues elsewhere in the body
Ex: oxytocin
What are releasing hormones?
Synthesized by neurons and cause release of other hormones from the anterior pituitary. Can also be classified as neurohormones.
Ex: GnRH
What are gonadotropins?
Released by gonadotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland
“tropin” - having an affinity for
So, affinity for the gonads
Ex: FSH and LH
FSH
causes follicular growth in ovary
stimulates sertoli cells in the testis (spermatogenesis)
LH
causes ovulation and stimulation of CL in the ovary
causes testosterone production in the tesis
What are steroids?
Sexual promotors -
Produced by gonads to stimulate reproductive tract, to regulate function of the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, and to regulate reproductive behavior
Cause development of secondary sex characteristics