Male Repro. Phys Flashcards
How do FSH and LH relate to each other during male childhood, adult hood, and senescence?
Childhood: FSH >LH Adult: LH>FSH Senescence: FSH >LH
What stimulates puberty?
Pulsatile secretion of GnRH and pulsatile secretion of FSH and LH
What are responsible for secondary sex characteristics?
Increasing levels of sex steroid hormones
What is the seminiferous tubule epithelium formed from?
Sertoli cells interspersed with germ cells such as spermatogonia and spermatozoa
Where are leydig cells found?
Interstitial cells btw tubules
80% of the adult testis is made up of ___ and 20% is ___/
Seminiferous tubules and CT interspersed with Leydig cells
Sertoli cell functions?
Provides nutrients to the developing sperm. Forms tight jxn creating BTB Secretes aqueous fluid into lumen of seminiferous tubules for sperm transport
Leydig function?
Synthesis and secretion of testosterone
compared to adrenal cortex, what enzymes are testis lacking?
21-b hydroxylase and 11-b hydroxylase
What enzyme do the testes have that converts androstenedione to testosterone?
17B Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
Where is testosterone concentrated and how?
In the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and by binding to ABP
what enzyme is key for peripheral tissues to convert Testosterone to DHT?
5a reductase
Which hormone Testosterone or DHT has greater affinity for androgen receptors?
DHT
What happens if there is deficiency of 5a reductase?
ambiguous external genitalia
In male reproductive tract, where are estrogen levels highest? How is it produced?
In the seminiferous tubules fluid, it is produced from sertoli cells from conversion of testosterone to estradiol mediated by aromatase (CYP19)
Where are large amounts of estrogen found in the male body?
Adipose tissue
Describe the mitochondrial pathway for testosterone synthesis.
- Cytochronme P450 SCC (desmolase) cleaves side chain on cholesterol to convert it to pregnenolone
- Rate limiting step is converwsion of cholesterol to prenenolone
Where does testosterone go from the leydig cells?
- Diffuses into seminiferous tubules and into peritubular capillary network to be carried to peripheral circulation
How can leydig cells make cholesterol?
- Synthesize denovo via taking up LDL from circulation and HDL
- Can also store cholesterool as cholesterol esters
- Free cholesterol is made in testis leydig cells via HSL
- HSL converts cholesterol esters to free cholesterol for androgen production
- Cholesterol is transferred in mito membranes via StAR
- Converted to pregnenolone
- Free cholesterol is made in testis leydig cells via HSL
What three ways are testosterone transported?
- 60% bound to sex hormone binding globulin
- 38% bound to albumin
- 2% free, which is the active biological form
How does testosterone leave the body?
Excreted in urine:
- 50% of excreted androgens are found as urinary 17-ketosteroiods
- remander are conjugated androges or diol triol derivitves
When is testosterone present in fetal life?
- Present in second month of embryonic life
- It will determine if penis and scrotum develop
- if lacking testosterone clitoris and vagina form
What does testosterone do in fetal life?
- Fetal differentiation of internal male reproductive tact
- Epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicles
- Causes descent of testes into scrotum during last 2-3 months of pregnancy
Testosterone actions at puberty?
- Increase mm mass
- Pubertal growth spurt
- Closure of epiphyseal plate
- Growth of penis and seminal vesicles
- Deepening of voice
- Spermatogenesis
- Libido
What are the specific actions of DHT?
Important for fetal differentiation of external male genitalia
- also important for male hair distribution, sebaceous gland activity and growth of prostate
What enzyme inhibitor can be used for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy and hair loss in males?
- 5a reductase inhibitor, this works bc DHT is responsible for prostate growth and male pattern baldness. This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT
What are the anabolic actions of adrogens? (7)
- Stimulates erythropoietin synthesis
- Stiulates sebaceous gland secretions
- Controls protein anabolic effects (nitrogen retention)
- Stimulates linear bone growth and closure of epiphyses
- Stimulates ABP synthesis
- Maintenance of secretions of sex glands
- Regulation of behavioural effects including libido
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and sx?
- Increased growth of the prostate gland
- Concentrations of DHT in prostatic tissues aren’t higher than in men without BPH, although they may have more DHT receptors on their prostate
- Urinary frequency urgency and nocturia, difficulty initiating and maintaining a stream, feeling fullness in bladder, dribbling of urine