Male Repro Flashcards
What is the developmental origin of sertoli cells
coelomic epithelial cells of the gonadal ridge
What is the germ cells originate from?
they migrated from the yolk sac
What is the developmental origin of leydig cells?
mesenchyme of gonadal ridge
What cells synthesize testosterone
leydig cells
What is the precursor hormone to testosterone
progesterone
What do sertoli cells secrete
AMH
Inhibin
Estrogen
Androgen binding protein
What are the three repro important areas f the hypothalymus?
Paraventricular nucleus
the surge center
the tonic center
Which center of the hypothalamus is most important in males
tonic center
What is the function of the tonic center in males
small frequent surges of GnRH from the hypothalamus induces the production of LH which stimulates the production of testosterone
Which center of the hypothalamus is most important in females
the surge center
What is the function of the surge center
a high amplitude surge of GnRH is necessary to produce a large surge of LH which is needed for ovulation to occur
From where is FSH and LH secreted?
anterior pituitary
What does testosterone negatively feedback on?
LH and GnRH
What does inhibin (from sertoli cells) negatively feedback on?
FSH
The hypothalamus is inherently ______
female
What defeminizes the hypothalamus during fetal development
estradiol (testosterone converted to estradiol via aromatase)
How does testosterone defeminize the hypothalamus during development
-Testosterone is produced by fetal testes
-testosterone is converted in the brain to estradiol by aromatase
-estrodiol in the brain eliminates the surge center
What enzyme converts testosterone to estrodiol in the brain
aromatase
If estradiol defeminizes the hypothalamus, how do females not defeminize their own brain?
alpha-fetoprotein binds to estradiol (gonadal) preventing it from crossing the blood brain barrier in the CNS
What protein binds gonadal estradiol in the fetus
alpha-fetoprotein
Where is alpha-fetoprotein made in the fetus
made by yolk sac and fetal liver
What is the function of alpha-fetoprotein?
a protein produced by the fetal liver to bind to gonadal estrogen to prevent it from crossing the blood brain barrier
What is the function of androgen binding protein
binds to testosterone and increases concentration of testosterone within seminiferous tubules
Where is androgen binding protein produced
sertoli cells
What are the three major factors leading to puberty
Metabolic
Environmental/social cues
Genetics/breeding
How do GnRH neurons inhibit puberty
they have increased sensitivity to negative feedback of testosterone
There is ______ sensitivity of GnRH neurons to ______ as puberty approaches
decreased, testosterone
once there is a decreased sensitivity of GnRH neurons as puberty approaches what happens?
testosterone can now influence the hypothalamus to increase secretion of LH
How does LH influence testosterone production
it increases it
What triggers change in hypothalamic testosterone sensitivity at puberty?
-neurons can sense changes in blood glucose and FAs
-Leptin receptors
True/false: There is a certain level of fatness required for puberty?
true
What converts testosterone to DHT in cells?
5alpha reductase
true/false: Testosteron/DHT is necessary for growth and maturation of accessory sex glands
true
What are two ways to have the accessory sex glands regress
castration or anything that interferes with GnRH/LH
What are spermatogonia and how do they divide
stem cells
divide by mitosis