Female Reproductive Physiology - Trachte Flashcards
How many chromosomes are in Primary Oocytes?
46
How many chromosomes are in Secondary Oocytes?
23
How many chromosomes are in an Ovum?
23
At what stage is oogenesis arrested in the developing fetus?
Prophase I of Meiosis I
At what stage is oogenesis arrested in during ovulation?
Metaphase II of Meiosis II
Are quiescent eggs in the ovary diploid or haploid?
Diploid
they don’t get to haploid until fertilization
What type (first, second, third) of follicles do primary oocytes reside in?
All three:
Primary oocytes reside in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Follicles
Where does the majority of progesterone come from?
Corpus luteum (after ovulation)
What degrades the Corpus Luteum?
Prostaglanding F2-alpha
used in agriculture to synchronize cycles of animals
What are the seven basic steps in the Summary of Ovarian Follicular Development?
- At birth all oogonia have developed into primary oocytes which represent the total complement of oocytes available to the female during her reproductive life
- Primary oocytes are surrounded by “follicular cells”= granulosa & thecal cells: collectively called primordial follicles.
- Primordial follicles slowly progress to primary follicles and a large number survive until menopause (~50yrs).
- When primoridal/primary follicles are exhausted: menopause ensues.
- Each cycle a cohort (
When does menopause begin?
When all primordial/primary follicles are exhausted
What are the components of the Mature Hypothalamo-
Pituitary Ovarian Axis?
Hypothalamus => secretes GnRH
Anterior Pituitary => secretes FSH and LH
Ovaries => Granulosa cells stimulated by FSH and produce Inhibin, Theca cells stimulated by LH and produce androgens (converted to estrogen by aromatase in granulosa cells)
Negative Feedback:
Inhibin inhibits FSH (pituitary)
Estrogen inhibits GnRH (hypothalamus) and LH (pituitary)
What is different about the negative feedback inhibition in the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Ovarian Axis during ovulation?
Estrogen is no longer negative feedback => becomes positive feedback (activates release of GnRH and LH)
***Causes LH surge and ovulation!
(Inhibin inhibits FSH from causing more follicle maturation)
What happens to the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Ovarian Axis during Menopause?
No estrogen
High GnRH, FSH, and LH
What happens to the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Ovarian Axis during pregnancy?
Tons of estrogen
Low GnRH, FSH, and LH
***Under control of the placenta (secretes estrogen, progesterone, and bHCG)
What hormone stimulates LH during pregnancy?
beta-hCG
also maintains corpus luteum