Lent Flashcards
What are the characteristics of offspring in asexual reproduction?
- Offspring genetically identical
- Generated via mitosis
- Rapid and efficient
- Lack of diversity
- Parthenogenesis - female able to produce an embryo without fertilizing the egg with sperm.
What are the characteristics of offspring in sexual reproduction?
- Offspring genetically different due to mixing of genes
- Generated via meiosis
- Increases genetic diversity
Name the different types of sex determination in mammals.
- Chromosome sex
- Gonadal sex
- Phenotypical sex
- Brain sex
What is the role of the sry gene in sexual determination?
The sry gene, found on the Y chromosome, is a sex-determining gene that:
- Initiates the development of gonads (testes)
- Initiates the production of androgens
- Inhibits passive female development (e.g. by MIH)
Describe the initial movement of primoridal cells in an indifferent gonad
- Germ cells arise in the allantois
- Migrate to the genital ridges, due to a chemo-attractant gradient
What are the downstream effects of the SRY gene in gene expression?
- Sox9 is upregulated, contributing to male development.
- Dax1 is inhibited, promoting female development.
- MIH is produced, inhibiting Mullerian duct development.
- wnt4- suppresses the production of androgens
- sf1- Activates MIH and steroid biosynthesis
- wt1- promotes early gonadal development
Where are primordial germ cells located in ovaries and testes?
Ovaries: Located in the cortex, cells arrest in the 1st meiotic division.
Testes: Located in the medulla, in a cord-like formation, cells arrest in mitosis before meiosis.
How does sexual differentiation occur in the reproductive tubes of males and females?
Females: Mullerian duct differentiates into fallopian tubes.
Males: Wolffian duct differentiates into vas deferens due to the presence of MIH.
What experimental evidence supports sexual differentiation?
- Changes to MIH release affects the presence of the Mullerian duct. e.g. in a castrated male- Lack of male androgen leads to passive development into a female with Mullerian duct.
- Castrated male but with androgens develops both ducts because no MIH to inhibit Mullerian, however Wolffian duct still develops due to androgens
What is hypothalamic masculinization, and what factors influence it?
Hypothalamic masculinization occurs due to exposure to androgens, mainly estrogen, preventing the hypothalamus from dealing with the surge in LH.
~~ Experimental evidence includes injecting dihydrotestosterone and removing testes early in development, showing that this development occurs early in life, and the role of testosterone is significant
What are some abnormalities in sex chromosome, hormone response, and hormone production?
Sex chromosome abnormalities
- Klinefelter’s syndrome (XXY) and
- Turner’s syndrome (XO)
Androgen insensitivity
- failure to respond to hormones.
Inappropriate hormone production
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, produces too much hormone
What are the functions of the testes?
Production of sperm
Synthesis and secretion of androgens
What route does the sperm take through the testis?
Seminiferous tubules -> Rete testis -> Efferent duct -> Epididymis -> Vas deferens
Describe the structure of the seminiferous tubules
Ring of sertoli cells that secrete developed sperm into the lumen
Inbetween these circular structures are Leydig cells that secrete testosterone
What are the stages of spermatogenesis?
1.Spermatogonia - self renewal cells, maintaining stem cell population
2. Mitosis- production of 2n cells that remain connected to form a syncitium
3. Primary spermatocytes - 4n cells formed at the start of meiosis
4. Meiosis-formation of haploid cells
5. Spermiogenesis - formation of spermatids by structural changes
What is spermiogenesis (5) and where does it occur?
Spermiogenesis- is the development structural adaptations in sperm, for example the acrosome, flagella, mitochondrial sheath, nuclear compaction and cytoplasmic extrusion
Develops towards the lumen, when sperm are in close contact with Sertoli cells
What mechanisms allow for the continuous production of sperm?
- A0 Spermatogonia- presence of a stem-cell like sperm cell, continually dividing and producing sperm
- Spermatogenic wave- initiation of spermatogenesis from different places along the seminiferous tubule
- Spermatogenic cycle- Reactivation of the cycle before completion of the previous cycle has occurred, usually reactivates when a quarter of the way through the cycle
What are hormonal controls of spermatogenesis?
GnRH- from Hypothalamus = release of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary
LH acts on Leydig cells
FSH acts on Sertoli cells
Testosterone forms part of a negatie feedback cycle on the HP axis
Inhibin, produced by Sertoli cells inhibit FSH release from the anterior pituitary
What is the function of Sertoli cells in spermatogenesis?
Sertoli cells contribute to the sexual differentiation of the male phenotype
- Control spermatogenesis
- Provide mechanical support
- Produce seminiferous fluid and androgen-binding proteins
- Form the blood-testis barrier.
How does temperature affect the testes?
External testes
- A temperature 4-7 degrees lower than the body can decrease fertility
Internal testes
- Found in some animals like elephants, adapt to maintain fertility despite internal conditions.
What is the significance of the blood-testis barrier?
Creation of an immunologically privileged site
Prevent auto-antibody production, maintain a privileged site, and prevent the entry of toxic substances.
Breaking this barrier can lead to infertility.
What changes occur in sperm during maturation in the epididymis?
- Development of sperm swimming ability
- Surface changes to the sperm head (involving EPPIN and LIPOCALINS)
- Metabolic shifts to fructose usag
- Loss of the cytoplasmic droplet.
EVIDENCE: Sperm sampled from the start and end of the epididymis showed different fertilisation abilities
How does sperm move within the epididymis?
Sperm passively moves in seminiferous fluid, driven by contractions of smooth muscle in the epididymal wall and the movement of epididymal cilia.
What is the composition of seminal fluid, and what are its sources?
Seminal fluid- sperm, Na+, K+
Seminal Vesicle- Fructose, prostaglandins, and fibrinogen-like proteins
Prostate gland- Proteolytic enzymes and coagulating enzymes
Bulbourethral gland - mucus
Describe the process of erection and ejaculation and its control.
Arteriolar vasodilation = increased blood flow to the corpus cavernosa and corpus spongiosum, causes an erection.
Process is controlled by parasympathetic regulation involving acetylcholine, NO, and cGMP, leading to smooth muscle relaxation.
Ejaculation is controlled by sympathetic mechanisms, leading to smooth muscle contraction in the vas deferens and accessory glands.
What are the steps after insemination, and what barriers exist in the female reproductive system?
Barriers include:
- Mucus
Monocytes
- Acidic pH
- Flowback
- Crypts and cervical mucus.
What is the life span of gametes, and how does sperm storage vary across species?
The life span of human gametes is 28-48 hours. Sperm storage varies; humans store sperm for 5 days, bats for 186 days, and snakes for 7 years.
What is sperm competition, and what mechanisms are involved?
Sperm competition occurs between sperm that are aiming to inseminate the egg
Mechanisms to overcome and ‘win’ include:
- Numerous sperm for competition
- Last sperm precedence
- Copulatory plugs
- Sperm polymorphism, where different sperm types serve various roles.
What is capacitation, and where does it occur?
Renders sperm fertile.
Occurs in the female reproductive tract, in the fallopian tubes (ampulla)
Changes
1. Removal of membrane cholesterol
- changes in membrane permeability, movement of Ca2+ in increases motility
- CRISP-1 inhibitory effect on capacitation, inhibiting uptake of Ca2+ via CATSPER
2. Hyperactivation
3. Protein modifications
- Sperm able to bind to ZP3
- Removal of glycoproteins
4. Increase in intracellular pH
- Promotes acrosome reaction
Describe the stages of fertilization, including the acrosome reaction.
- Progesterone is produced from cumulus oophorus cells surrounding the embryo
- This increases the amount of Ca2+ uptake, via CATSPER, due to capacitation of the sperm
- Increasing swimming activity
Acrosome reaction - Release of digestive enzymes such as Acrosin and Hyaluronidase via exocytosis
What are the three types of glycoproteins on the Zona pellucida and what are their roles?
ZP1: protein creating cross-linking between ZP2 and ZP3
ZP2: Binds to acrosome-reacted sperm
- Facilitates movement through ZP
ZP3: Binds to acrosome- intact sperm (occurs before ZP2)
- Stimulates Ca2+ influx and acrosome reaction
What are the stages of oogenesis in the early fetus, at birth, and during sexual maturity/puberty?
- Early fetus, primordial germ cells undergo mitosis to form oogonia.
- At birth, a primary oocyte with meiosis I arrest is formed within a primary follicle.
- During sexual maturity/puberty, a secondary oocyte with meiosis II arrest is produced, containing the first polar body.
What is the role of granulosa cells during antral follicular development, and how does the antrum form in Graffian follicles?
- Granulosa cells play a crucial role in preventing the maturation of the oocyte during antral follicular development by sending signals (cAMP) to keep it in meiosis arrest.
- The antrum in Graffian follicles forms as a fluid-filled central cavity caused by granulosa cells pumping out ions, leading to water movement.
What are the stages of ovulation, and what happens during the formation of the corpus luteum?
- Formation of the stigma
- Rupture of the follicle releasing follicular fluid and the oocyte,
- Movement of the oocyte captured by the fimbriae of the oviduct.
The corpus luteum, formed from the remains of follicle granulosa cells, produces progesterone, signaling to the brain and preparing for pregnancy.
How is oogenesis hormonally controlled, and what are the roles of LH and FSH?
Release of GnRH from the hypothalamus,
- LH acting on thecal cells for testosterone synthesis
- FSH acting on granulosa cells, promoting continued follicle growth and uterus preparation. Generates negative feedback with inhibin
Explain the role of inhibin, estrogen, and kisspeptin in the hormonal control of oogenesis.
Inhibin exerts constant inhibition of FSH production.
Low estrogen has a negative feedback loop, inhibiting GnRH and anterior pituitary action.
High estrogen creates a positive feedback loop, causing an LH surge.
Kisspeptin, released from the hypothalamus, either inhibits (normal estrogen levels) or stimulates (high estrogen levels) GnRH release.
What are the effects of the LH surge during oogenesis, and what changes occur in the oocyte?
LH surge leads to
= completion of the first meiotic division, due to withdrawal of cAMP from granulosa cells,
= formation of cortical granules
= increase in collagenase activity in the oocyte.
Highlight the similarities and differences between spermatogenesis and oogenesis.
Similarities
- Both involve mitosis and meiosis
- Control by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA),
- Presence of feedback systems. Differences
- Continuous production of sperm versus the regular release of ova
- Large sperm outputs versus few oocytes released
- Timing and nature of gametogenesis completion. Spermatogenesis occurs throughout adulthood, while oocyte gametogenesis ends at menopause.
How do oestrus cycles in sheep, humans, and rodents differ?
Sheep- Start at ovulation, LH surge = ovulation, Luteolysis by Prostaglandin F2α
Human- Start at menstruation, LH surge = ovulation loss of progestorone leads to lining breakdown
Rodents- Start at ovulation, LH surge = ovulation, Progesterone peak caused by adrenal release, luteal phase affected by copulation
What is luteolysis and the luteal phase?
Luteolysis- breakdown of the luteum
Luteal phase- formation and regression of corpus luteum
What is the role of mechanical stimulation (copulation) in ovulation and maintenance of the corpus luteum?
- Maintenance of the corpus luteum
- Sensory fibres detect, decrease Dopamine, increases prolactin, corpus luteum maintained - Ovulation- in some animals LH surge is not enough, detection leads to increase GnRH and increased LH and FSH
What are the functions of the female reproductive tract and how does it structurally change during the ovarian cycle?
Transport gametes to the site of fertilisation
- Changes to be keratinised to protect
Provide a site for implantation
- Increased invaginations to increase SA, increase chance of implantation of egg
What changes occur to the cervix in the oetry cycle?
- Mucus consistency changes, in luteal phase is more viscous
- Cervical muscle tone- follicular phase dilated, luteal phase constricted
What is the structure of the uterus?
Serosa- outer connective tissue
Myometrium- middle, smooth muscle layer
Endometrium- glandular layer
What methods exist for manipulating ovarian cycles, and how do they work?
- Pregnancy prevention
- Steroidal contraceptives- High progesterone dose and low oestrogen (mimicking pregnancy hormonal levels)
- Increased viscosity of cervical and uterine secretions- Inhibiting movement of sperm
For Induction of synchronous cycling
- Progesterone sponge- absorb hormones, and then removal of sponge co-ordinates start of cycle
- Prostaglandin analogues- for sheep, inducing luteolysis
What are the methods and mechanisms of male contraceptives?
- Hormonal
- Long-acting progesterone suppress GnRH - Non-hormonal
- Vasalgel- block vas deferens
- Anti-EPPIN- bind to sperm surface, prevent motility
- Drug- inhibits contraction of vas deferens, so no sperm in seminal fluid
What are the hormonal, neuroendocrine and environmental controls of the oestrus cycle?
Hormonal
- oestrogen in follicular phase, LH surge, and progesterone in luteal phase
Neuroendocrine
- HPG axis controlling release of GnRH, LH and FSH
- Feedback controls, inhibin, progesterone and oestrogen
Environmental
- Photoperiod for some seasonal breeders
- Nutritional status,
What are the factors affecting fertility?
Age
Genetic factors
Pathological factors
Environmental factors
Physiological factors - hormonal imbalances
What are some physiological changes during puberty? (5)
- Onset of fertility
- Appearance of secondary sexual characteristics
- Growth spurt (girls before boys)
- Changes in body composition
- Psychological changes.
What is the Gonadostat Theory?
Changes in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus and pituitary to gonadotrophins regulate puberty.
True in rodents
What is the Hypothalamic Maturation Theory?
It suggests that reactivation of FSH and LH secretion, independent of gonads, triggers puberty
Evidence: following hormonal changes in castrated monkeys, that still showed signs of puberty
Reactivation is due to the removal of the GABA inhibition, and stimulation by glutamate and Kisspeptin
What are some factors affecting the age at which puberty occurs?
- Genetic factors
- Size at birth
- Health and nutrition
- Body mass and composition- better nutrition (larger size) leads to earlier onset of puberty
- Pheromones- not in humans however in pigs young pigs exposed to pheromones of male developed. Likewise in mice when exposed to urine (containing pheromones) of dominant male mice
What are pheromones, and how do they affect puberty?
Pheromones are chemical signals secreted in urine that can influence the onset of puberty, potentially causing it to occur earlier.
Detected: Vomeronasal organ
How does lactation affect ovarian cycles?
- Lactation leads to a decrease in dopamine
- Causing an increase in prolactin
- Increase in beta-endorphin
- Reducing the release of GnRH
- Leading to a cessation of ovarian cycles.
Lactation inhibits implantation, however fertilisation of embryo may still occur
What are the differences between short-day and long-day breeders in terms of reproduction?
Short-day breeders have a shorter gestation period, mate in autumn and give birth in spring e.g. sheep, while long-day breeders have a longer gestation period and mate and give birth in spring e.g. horses
How is light detected and sensed in seasonal breeders?
- Detection by photoreceptor in the retina, sent and transduced at the Pineal gland to a compound
- Melatonin is produced in the dark
- Melatonin inhibits TSH release from Pars tuberalis
- If TSH is present it would cause Ependemal cells to produce DIO2
- DIO2 converts T4 -> T3 (active)
- T3 prevents the release of GnRH
What is diapause?
Egg is fertilised however doesn’t implant so remains unfertilised
Facultative- delayed few days ,from suckling
Obligatory- delayed months, induced by day length
What are the morphological changes in the conceptus after fertilisation in early development?
Cell division
- But smaller in size when in ZP
Cell specialization
- Formation of inner cell mass and trophoblast
Progression from zygote to morula to blastocyst.
What is the role of the zona pellucida? (4)
- Prevents the egg from interacting with the uterus wall too early
- Helps maintain early cells together
- Prevents the growth of cells, Compaction of cells
- Hardens to prevent polyspermy
What are the contributions of sperm and egg to the conceptus?
Sperm
- haploid nucleus
- centrioles
- non-coding RNA
Egg
- mitochondria
- cytoplasm
- haploid nucleus
- most organelles.
What is compaction, and why is it important?
- Compaction is the process where blastomeres polarize and adhere to each other
- Polarization occurs due to arrangement of actin filaments and Wnt signalling
- Leading to asymmetric division and the generation of two populations of cells, apical and basal.
- Which will determine the inner cell mass and trophoblast
What is cavitation?
Cavitation is the process where blastomeres pump out Na+ ions into an inner cavity, creating a blastocoel as water moves in
Outer cells forming the trophectoderm and inner cells forming the inner cell mass.
How does control of gene expression change during embryogenesis?
Maternal RNA and proteins control the first divisions until the formation of the blastocyst, with timing dependent on the stability of maternal RNA and length of time between divisions.
What is epigenetic regulation, and what are some examples?
Heritable changes in gene expression without changes in the DNA base sequence (not mutations)
Examples:
- DNA methylation
- Histone modifications
- Non-coding RNAs.
What is genomic imprinting, and how does it affect embryogenesis?
Genomic imprinting is the pattern of genetic marks (epigenetics) that differ between oocytes and sperm, leading to differences between the mother and father, which can affect fetal and placental growth.
Evidence: in breeding experiments between M/F horses and M/F donkeys, production of either a mule or hinny
Example IGF 2 from paternal increase size
H19 maternal
What are Parthenogenetic, Gynogenetic and Androgenetic embryos? And what do they show
Parthenogenetic - one M and F nuclei
Gynogenetic- Both F = no placenta
Androgenetic - Both M = no embryo
They show imprinted genes where only one working is inherited from either the father or the mother
What is dosage compensation?
Inactivation of one X chromosome in each cell
Carried out by condensation with a non-coding RNA (Xist) forming a Barr body
What are the reasons for embryo implantation?
- Acquire more resources (nutrients and gases)
- Form the placenta for exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste between the mother and the developing embryo.
What hormone plays a crucial role in determining the implantation window?
Dependent on the hormonal profile, particularly requiring adequate levels of progesterone and estrogen.
Describe the changes in the uterus during the pre-receptive and receptive phases of implantation.
During the pre-receptive phase, the uterus is estrogen-dominant with high progesterone receptors, a negative charge on the membrane, a thick mucin coat, and long microvilli.
In the receptive phase, it becomes progesterone-dominant with lower progesterone receptors, thin mucin coat, short microvilli, and pinopodes for fluid absorption
What enzymes and factors are involved in the process of embryo hatching and implantation?
- trypsin (protease) by the embryo to break down the zona pellucida.
2.Factors like LIF and OPN from uterine glands also play roles in facilitating implantation ,by preparing the uteirne lining - Integrins - attach blastocyst to lining
- MMPs - remodelling of endometrium
What factors determine embryo spacing in the uterus?
Embryo spacing depends on maternal factors like
- muscle contractions
- fluid levels
- uterine crypt structure
- vascular flow
- embryonic factors like folate metabolism.
What are the two types of implantation, and how do they differ?
Invasive implantation involves breaking through the epithelium and developing in the uterine wall
Non-invasive implantation occurs within the lumen of the uterus without breaking through the epithelium.
What is decidualization, and what role does it play in implantation?
- Only occurs in invasive implantation
- Decidualization is the process where stromal cells differentiate into decidua,
- Provide a supportive environment for implantation and facilitating the maternal recognition of pregnancy.
- Inflammation like response, angiogenesis, and VEGFs
- With NK cells to stop embryo from penetrating too far
How do different species ensure the maintenance of the corpus luteum during early pregnancy? (4)
- Neuro-endocrine links- increase prolactin or increase GnRH
- Inhibition of luteolytic factors like PGF2α - by release of oxytocin or oestrogen from oocyte
- Secretion of luteotrophic factors like hCG
- Formation of additional corpus luteum through hormones like PMSG (horses).
What are the different pathologies associated with invasive implantation?
Accreta- breakdown of endometrium
Increta- breakdown of myometrium
Percreta- breakdown of serosa
What are the different modes of vertebrate prenatal nutrition?
- Lecitrophy- nutrients from yolk
- Epitheliophagy- nutrients from uterine lining
- Oophagy- eating unfertile egg
- Embryophagy- eats embryo
- Placentrophy- absorption across the placenta
What are the roles of the placenta?
- Exchanges nutrients and waste
- Provides protection from trauma and teratogens
- Offers immunological protection
- Secretes hormones
What are the mechanisms of exchange across the placenta?
Simple diffusion
Facilitated diffusion
Active transport
Receptor-mediated endocytosis.
What are teratogens?
Teratogens are external influences that can lead to abnormal development in embryos, such as:
- radiation
- physical trauma
- microorganisms
- hyperglycemia
- chemicals.
How does the placenta protect against teratogens?
- Acts as a physical barrier
- Immunomondulates effects from teratogens
What are the 4 foetal membranes?
The yolk sac
Amnion
Chorion/ Trophoblast
Allantois
What is the immunological function of the placenta?
Prevent rejection of the foetus by modulating maternal immune responses
- Reduced expression of MHC I, Expression of non-classical MHC that isn’t very variable, promote Th1 -> TH2 response
Acting as a physical barrier against foreign tissue, no transfer of blood, so immunologically privileged site
What are the endocrine functions of the placenta?
Supports pregnancy by secreting hormones like hCG, eCG, and steroids
- Prepares for lactation with placental lactogens
- Initiates birth with steroids, prostaglandins, and relaxin.
What is the role of progesterone in pregnancy? (5)
- Maintenance of the endometrium
- Prevention of uterine contractions
- Immune modulation
- Development of mammary glands
- Regulation of the menstrual cycle
How can estrogen’s role in pregnancy be described?
Maintained at high levels during pregnancy, even higher than progesterone in some species like mares (horses).
- Uterine growth and development
- Mammary gland development
What is the luteoplacental shift?
Transition from progesterone secretion by the corpus luteum to the placenta, a process observed in humans but not all animals.
What are some cardiovascular changes during pregnancy?
Increased cardiac output
Decreased total peripheral resistance
Changes in blood pressure
Increased blood volume
Postural/heart compression.
How does pregnancy affect blood volume?
Pregnancy triggers vasodilation and pooling of blood, leading to an increase in blood volume.
This is regulated by hormonal pathways such as the ADH and RAA pathways.
What are some haematological changes during pregnancy?
- Increased erythropoiesis
- but a greater increase in blood volume, 3. Causes decrease in red blood cell concentration and haemoglobin levels, a condition known as = physiological anaemia.
How does pregnancy affect urinary function?
Increases renal blood flow, leading to an increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine output.
Hormones like relaxin and nitric oxide (NO) contribute to vasodilation.
What respiratory changes occur during pregnancy?
Increases oxygen demand, compensated by an increase in tidal volume.
Progesterone increases airway dilation, and some degree of hyperventilation may occur.
What metabolic changes occur during pregnancy? (4)
- Increase in PTH
- Gestational diabetes
- Increased lipolysis
- Placental lactogens
How does pregnancy affect calcium mobilization? (4)
- Increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion
- leading to increased reabsorption (upregulate enzyme converting VitD to active)
- Retention of calcium (calbindin @kidney)
- Increased mobilization by osteoclasts.
What thyroid changes occur during pregnancy?
Increases thyroid-binding proteins due to oestrogen, leading to an increase in total T3 and T4. HCG binding to TSH receptors, due to their similar structure, also activates the thyroid gland.
What gastrointestinal changes may occur during pregnancy?
Pregnancy may lead to intestinal or liver hypertrophy, and compression may cause increased intragastric pressure and reflux.
How can foetal growth be measured?
Ultrasound to look at size
Direct - post mortem
Indwelling methods
Weight measurements
What are the ways in which growth can be abnormal?
Non-proportionate = Genetic factors may lead to disproportionate growth
Size = large or small
What are the 3 key influences affecting foetal growth?
- Foetal
- Maternal
- Placental
What are the two foetal influences on growth?
Foetal genome - genetic diseases e.g. trisomy, or genetic inheritance can lead to larger size
Endocrine action of the foetus
- Glucocorticoids leads to smaller foetus
- Increase in GH has no effect
- IGF-II effects rate, however most experience catch up growth
What are the 5 maternal influences on foetal growth?
- Uterus size
- Pony in thoroughbred led to larger offspring - Nutrition effect
- Parity between child number
- first child smaller than the rest up until a certain point, dependent on age also - Socio-economic influences
- healthcare - Disease
- Diabetes leads to larger foetus
What are the 4 placental influences on foetal growth?
- Weight of placenta
- Vascularization of the placenta
- low vascularization shows brain-sparing effect - Transport of nutrients
- Placental adaptions and structure
- upregulation of transport proteins
Why is foetal growth important in the long term?
Foetal programming
- Low birth weight linked to development of cardiovascular disease, potential epigenetic changes
Long term health
How is fluid balance in the foetus maintained?
Intake
- Absorb some through the skin
- Swallow some form surrounding amnion
- Produce lung liquid
- Intra-membranous exchange
Outtake
- removal via the urethra
- Placental exchange
How is the foetal cardiovascular system different to the adult system?
Circulation
- foetus has 3 shunts
–Ductus venosus– bypasses liver
– Ductus arteriosus - bypasses lungs
– Foramen ovale - bypasses the lungs (hole in heart)
- Resistance in foetus and placenta run in parallel
How does gas transfer occur in the foetus?
- Foetal haemoglobin has a higher affinity (2α and 2γ), less responsive to 2,3- DPG
- Foetus has high Hb conc
- Difference between maternal and foetal blood promotes diffusion
Describe the mechanism of haemopoiesis in the foetus
- Cortisol released from adrenal gland
- Forms the aorta- gonad- mesonephros (AGMs)
- Region maturates the haematopoietic stem cells
- Switch to liver and spleen
- Then switch to bone marrow closer to birth
What endocrine molecules are present in foetal development? (3)
Cortisol rise -> from foetal adrenal gland
- Increase in PNMT enzyme to convert NA to A
Leptin - fat deposition
TH - CNS development
Adrenaline -> lung and metabolic development
What respiratory changes occur in the foetus?
Increase in elastin for expansion
Surfactant synthesis - cortisol, adrenaline and TH
Breathing movements