Hypothalamic - Pituitary Gonadal Axis I Flashcards
What are the 7 things needed to reproduce?
→Correct process of sex determination (genotypic sex) and differentiation (phenotypic sex)
→Sexual maturation- Puberty
→Production and storage of sufficient supply of gametes
→Correct number of chromosomes in egg and sperm
→Actual sexual intercourse
→Fertilisation, implantation, embryonic and placental development
→ nurture individual until capable of “independent” life
What is an example of positive feedback?
→ Ovulation
Describe how the HPG axis works
→+ve drive from the hypothalamus which activates the pituitary
→ +ve drive causing hormonal release from the pituitary
→ Causes release of steroid hormones from the gonads
→ Work in a -ve feedback to regulate their production
What does type of hormones does the hypothalamus produce?
→ Peptide hormones
What hormones does the hypothalamus produce?
→Gonadotropin releasing hormone
→kisspeptin
What hormones does the pituitary produce?
→ Follicle stimulating hormone
→ LH
What hormones do the gonads produce?
→ Estradiol
→ Progesterone
→ Testosterone
→ Inhibin
→ Activin
Describe the HPG axis in relation to FSH and LH
→ GnRH is released from the hypothalamus
→ This binds to the receptor on the anterior pituitary
→ LH and FSH are secreted
→ FSH and LH are released into the circulation and bind to their receptors on the gonads
→ this co-ordinates the secretion of estrogen, progesterone and androgens
Where is GnRH secreted into?
→ Into the primary plexus of the median eminence
Where does GnRH travel after it is secreted?
→ Into the hypophyseal portal into the anterior pituitary
What does GnRH act on?
→ The gonadotroph cells in the anterior pituitary
What is the function of kisspeptin?
→ Master controller of puberty
Where is kisspeptin expressed?
→ In the arcuate nucleus
→ AVPV nucleus
What do kisspeptin neurons do?
→ They send signals upstream of GnRH to neurons
What receptor do the kisspeptin neurons bind to?
→ GPR54 receptor on GnRH neurons
What can kisspeptin 54 cross?
→ blood brain barrier
What type of hormone is kisspeptin?
→ Peptide hormone that is cleaved from a large pre-pro structure
What is GnRH secreted in response to and where?
→ Synthesized and secreted in response to kisspeptin
→ From GnRH neurons
What type of release is GnRH?
→ Pusatile
Where does GnRH bind?
→ To the GnRH receptor on gonadotroph cells of the anterior pituitary
Where does GnRH travel from and to?
→ from the arcuate nucleus to the median eminence to the anterior pituitary
What is GnRH produced from?
→ a Prepro protein