Exam 3 Lecture 21 Male Reproductive System Flashcards
Describe the hypothalamus-anterior pituitary- gonads axis
The hypothalamus GnRH, which travels in the hypothalami-pituitary portal vessels to anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary responds by secreting LH and FSH. FSH and LH travel to the gonads, where they stimulate both the secretion of sex hormones and the synthesis of gametes. The sex hormones will travel to reproductive tract and other organs. They will also offer negative feedback to the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary, in most cases, except estrogen in the female menstrual cycle.
What are the main components of the male reproductive system?
Testes, epididymis, penis (including urethra), and ductus deferens
What are the accessory glands of the male reproductive system?
Seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral glands, urethral glands
What role does testosterone play in spermatogenesis? Through which cells does it act.
It is required for its initiation and maintenance. It acts through the Sertoli cells.
How does testosterone affect GnRH secretion?
It provides negative feedback to the hypothalamus, which decreases GnRH secretion.
How does testosterone affect LH secretion?
It inhibits LH secretion via a direct action on the anterior pituitary.
How does testosterone affect male accessory reproductive organs?
It induces their differentiation and maintains their functions.
How does testosterone affect male secondary sex characteristics?
It induces them. It opposes action of estrogen on breast growth.
How does testosterone affect anabolism and bone growth?
It stimulates protein anabolism, bone growth, cessation of bone growth.
How does testosterone affect sex drive and aggression?
It is required for the former and may enhance the latter.
How does testosterone affect the quantity of red blood cells?
It stimulates erythropoietin secretion by the kidneys.
Inside the testes, what do you find?
Seminiferous tubules enclosed by septum, septum surrounded by tunica albuginea, tubule recti at the origin of the seminiferous tubules, the rete testis and mediastinum testis facing the epidymis.
What surrounds the testes?
tunica vaginalis
What connects the testes to the epididymis?
the ductuli efferentes
What are the three parts of the epididymis?
head, tail and body
After epididymis, through what do gametes travel?
ductus deferens
what cells surround the seminiferous tubules?
myoid cells
what cells are in the interstitium of the testes?
Leydig cells
what layers make up the seminiferous tubule?
from inside out, lumen, seminiferous epithelium, lymphatic channel, and wall of seminiferous tubule
where are spermatogenic cells located?
in the seminiferous epithelium
where are sertoli cells located?
in the seminiferous epithelium
what can be found in the inter tubular space?
venules and arterioles, leydig cells, and macrophages
what kind of cells are sertoli cells?
somatic
what are the spermatogenic cells?
spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids
what is in the wall of the seminiferous tubule?
fibroblasts and myoid cells
How does cholesterol become an androgen?
cholesterol becomes pregnenolone via SCCE, then through 17alpha hydroxylase, becomes 17-OH pregnenolone, then through 17-lyase, it becomes DHEA, then through 3beta HSD it becomes androstenedione, then through 17beta HSD, it becomes testosterone, then through aromatase, it becomes estradioi
how does cholesterol become progesterone?
SCCE to pregnenolone, 3beta HSD to progesterone
how does progesterone become an androgen?
17alpha hydroxylase to 17-OH progesterone, 17-lyase to androstenedione, 17beta HSD to testosterone, aromatase to estradiol
How does testosterone become the derivative 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone?
through 5alpha-reductase
How does testosterone become the derivative 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone?
through 5alpha-reductase
Where are Leydig cells found?
In the inter tubular space of the testes.
Like all steroid-producing cells, Leydig cells have abundant what?
lipid droplets
smooth endoplasmic reticulum
mitochondria with tubular cristae
what two hormones regulate Leydig cell function?
- LH, which stimulates testosterone production
2. Prolactin, which induces the expression of the LH receptor
What does prolactin do?
it induces the expression of the LH receptor
how does StAR regulate the synthesis of steroids?
it transports cholesterol across the outer mitochondrial membrane
A mutation in the gene encoding StAR can lead to what pathology?
defective synthesis of adrenal and gonadal steroids or lipid congenital adrenal hyperplasia
What do Leydig cells produce?
testosterone
Where does testosterone go from Leydig cells?
lymphatic sinusoid and blood vessel