Male Reproductive Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

Function of testes?

A
  • Sperm production
    • Millions of viable sperm produced each day
    • Average time from production to ejaculation is 64 days
  • Testosterone production
    • Maintains male secondary characteristics
    • Controls spermatogenesis
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2
Q

What hormone is responsible for male secondary characteristics?

A

Testosterone

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3
Q

What hormones are involved in the endocrine control of testicular function?

A
  • GnRH
    • Gonadotrophin releasing hormone
    • Produced from hypothalamus
  • Gonadotrophins
    • FSH and LH
    • Released from anterior pituitary
  • Testosterone
    • Released from testicles
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4
Q

Where is testosterone produced?

A

Testicles

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5
Q

Where is gonadorophin releasing hormone produced?

A

Hypothalamus

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6
Q

Where are the gonadotrophins produced?

A

Anterior pituitary

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7
Q

What are the gonadotrophin hormones?

A

FSH and LH

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8
Q

What effects on other hormones does testosterone have?

A

Inhibits secretion of GnRH by the hypothalamus

Inhibits secretion of FSH and LH by pituitary

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9
Q

What does FSH and LH stimulate?

A

Spermatogenesis and testosterone secretion by the testis

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10
Q

What is spermatogenesis?

A

Production of sperm from the primordial germ cells

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11
Q

What is the average cycle of spermatogenesis?

A

64 days

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12
Q

What are the 2 phases of spermatogenesis?

A
  1. Spermatocytogenesis
    1. Clonal expansion and maturation through mitotic and meiotic process
  2. Spermiogenesis
    1. Differentiation into mature sperm cells
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13
Q

What happens during spermatocytogenesis?

A

Clonal expansion and maturation through mitotic and meiotic processes

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14
Q

What happens during spermiogenesis?

A

Differentiation into mature sperm cells

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15
Q

When does spermatogenesis start and for how long does it go on?

A

Starts and puberty and is lifelong

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16
Q

Describe the chromosomal division during spermatogenesis?

A
  1. One mitotic division
    1. Spermatogonium to primary spermatocyte, diploid chromosomes
  2. First meiotic division
    1. Primary spermatocyte to secondary spermatocyte, two cells with haploid chromosome number
  3. Second meiotic division
    1. Secondary spermatocyte to spermatic, two cells with haploid chromosome number
  4. Spermiogenesis
    1. Maturation of spermatids into functional sperm cells (differentiation)
17
Q

What are some factors affecting spermatogenesis?

A
  • Medical
    • Pretesticular – problem with hormonal control
      • Functional – excessive weight loss, gain
      • Intracranial tumours, cysts, bleeds
      • Prolactinoma
      • Medications such as opiates, external testosterone
      • Genetic – Kallmann’s syndrome
    • Testicular – problem at the site of production
      • Surgery – orchidectomy, orchidopexy
      • STI
      • Mumps orchitis
      • Testicular trauma or torsion
      • Radiotherapy or chemotherapy
      • Genetic – Klinefelter’s, Y chromosome microdeletion
  • Lifestyle
    • Smoking
    • Obesity
18
Q

What are some steps to reduce impacts of factors affecting fertility?

A
  • Improve lifestyle
    • Normal BMI, stop smoking, alcohol in limits, diet, occupational exposure
  • Optimise medical condition
  • Stop medications
  • Reduce STI risk and treat promptly if diagnosed
  • Fertility preservation
    • Sperm freezing prior to surgery or cancer treatment
19
Q

What is the medical term for low sperm count?

A

Oligospermia

20
Q

What are clues of oligospermia from examination/investigations?

A
  • Examination
    • High BMI
    • Small testicles, varicocele, surgical scar
  • Hormonal profile
    • Low FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone (hypothalamus or pituitary cause – hypogonadotropic hypogonadism)
    • High prolactin – prolactinoma
    • High FSH, LH, but low testosterone (testicular cause – hypergonadotropic hypogonadism)
  • Genetic tests
    • Abnormal karyotype
    • CF
    • Microdeletion
  • USS testis
    • Testicular volume
    • Hydrocele
    • Varicoceoele
    • Cancer
21
Q

What is high FSH and LH but low testosterone called?

What is the cause?

A

Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism

Testicular cause

22
Q

What is low FSH and LH and low testosterone called?

What is the cause?

A

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Hypothalamus or pituitary cause

23
Q

Where is the sperm produced?

A

Seminiferous tubules

24
Q

Where is sperm stored?

A

Epididymis

25
Q

What are the 3 types of cells within the seminiferous tubles?

A
  • Germ cells- produce sperm
  • Sertoli/sustentacular cells- support sperm producing cell, produce inhibin
  • interstitial (leydig) cells- produce testosterone