Lecture 31 Reproductive Flashcards
Organs
gonads = testes + ovaries
ducts
accessory glands
external genitalia
Meiosis
46 chromosomes (2n, diploid) → 23 chromosomes (n, haploid)
46 Chromosomes
when does DNA replicate
22 homologous pairs of autosomes + 1 pair of sex chromosomes (XX = female, XY = male)
DNA replicates prior to meiosis; each chromosome is duplicated, consists of 2 sister chromatids
Meiosis I
homologous pairs separate, 2n (duplicated) → n(duplicated)
Meiosis II
sister chromatids separate, n (duplicated) → n (single chromosomes)
male
1 primary spermatocyte (2n) → → 4 sperm cells (n)
female
1 primary oocyte (2n) → 1 egg cell (n) … → 1 fertilized egg + polar bodies
Spermatogenesis
occurs in seminiferous tubules of testes
spermatogonia → primary spermatocyte → secondary spermatocytes → spermatids → sperm
Sertoli cells
support developing spermatocytes + endocrine function
blood testis barrier
tight junctions between Sertoli cells form barrier to immune system
hormonal control
general pattern
hypothalamus: GnRH → anterior pituitary: FSH & LH → gonads: steroid sex hormones + others
FSH
stimulates gamete production in male and female
LH
stimulates secretion of sex hormones by gonads and stimulates ovulation in females
Steroid sex hormones
♂: testosterone, DHT; ♀: estrogen [estradiol], progesterone
- stimulate gamete production, overall reproductive function, development
of reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics
Negative feedback
Negative feedback control regulates hormone levels in males and partly in females
Positive feedback
Positive feedback control triggers ovulation in females
Hormonal Control of Spermatogenesis
Sertoli cells
Leydig (interstitial) cells
Negative feedback control
Sertoli cells
respond to FSH, support developing spermatocytes
- androgen binding protein (ABP) binds and concentrates testosterone
Leydig (interstitial) cells
produce testosterone in response to LH
- testosterone binds to ABP in Sertoli cells → promotes spermatogenesis
Negative feedback control
(Spermatogenesis)
inhibin - secreted by Sertoli cells, inhibits FSH secretion
testosterone inhibits GnRH and LH secretion
Oogenesis
occurs in ovarian follicles in ovaries follicular cells (granulosa cells and theca cells) surround a developing egg cell (oocyte)
Follicle
primary follicle → secondary follicle → mature follicle → (Ovulation) corpus luteum
Egg
oogonia → primary oocyte → (meiosis 1) secondary oocyte (egg) → (requires fertilization, meiosis 11)
Ovarian Cycle
follicular phase (day 0-14) ovulation (day 14) luteal phase (day 14-28)