Neuroendocrinology of Reproduction

Question 1

what does the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology cover?

Answer 1

clinical subjects like pathophysiology of reproduction, age associated changes/disorders of reproductive tract, reproductive tissue cancers and the impact of environmental and occupational hazards on reproduction

Question 2

what is the green journal

Answer 2

Obstetrics and Gynecology
official pub of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
scientific advancements, new medical and surgical techniques, clinical evaluation of drugs and instruments

Question 3

what is a risk of hormone therapy for transgender individuals?

Answer 3

testosterone for gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) leads to reduction in breast glandular tissue, but it can also up regulate over 200 genes associated with breast cancer.
call for more BC screening in trans men, but there is no consensus on how.

Question 4

how long does it take to be a REI?

Answer 4

reproductive endocrinology and fertility Dr

4 years med school, 4 years OBGYN residency and 3 years REI fellowship.
fellowship is clinical and research training
well standardized among various training programs

infertility practice dominates with REI physicians. they can perform surgery

common surgeries:
- removal of fibroids
- tubal anastomosis (for when fallopian tubes are blocked)
- operative laparoscopy (when fallopian tubes are blocked)
- endometriosis (uterine tissue outside uterus) and pelvic adhesion (scar tissue) removal
- surgery for congenital abnormalities including reconstruction of vulva.

Question 5

describe the first recorded experiment in endocrinology

Answer 5

Arnold Berthold, German physiologist/zoologist

removed testes of immature male chickens, found decrease in secondary sex characteristics. (combs, wattles, male typical behaviours)
transplanted teste back, the male behaviours returned and they got their sex characteristics. if they were removed again, animal acted as if sexually immature

dissection, found the transplanted testis formed new vascular connections

conclusion: testes release a substance into the blood which affects behaviour and morphology

Question 6

intracrine mediation

Answer 6

chemical communication within the same cell, in organelles. internally.

Question 7

autocrine mediation

Answer 7

chemical communication from one cell, to itself. its own target

Question 8

paracrine mediation

Answer 8

chemical communication between cells close to each other

Question 9

endocrine mediation

Answer 9

chemical communication via the bloodstream to distant targets

Question 10

ectocrine mediation

Answer 10

chemical communication between different organisms

Question 11

hormone

Answer 11

a chemical messenger that is released into the bloodstream or tissue fluid system that affects the function of target cells some distance from the source

Question 12

neurohormone

Answer 12

hormone produced by neuron

Question 13

neuropeptide

Answer 13

a peptide hormone produced by a neuron

Question 14

neurosteroid

Answer 14

steroid hormone produced by neuron

Question 15

neuromodulator

Answer 15

hormone that changes (modulates) the response of a neuron to some other factor

Question 16

what did Berthold’s study tell us about testicular hormones?

Answer 16

testes are transplantable, can function and produce sperm
no nerves that direct testicular function
blood borne product from testes was responsible for normal development of chickens

Question 17

what are the major endocrine glands?

Answer 17

hypothalamus
pituitary
adrenal
pineal
thyroid
thymus
pancreas
testes/ovaries

Question 18

what are the general features of the endocrine system?

Answer 18

endocrine glands are ductless and have a rich blood supply
hormones are secreted from the endocrine glands into the bloodstream. they can travel to virtually every cell, and can interact with any cell that has appropriate receptors
hormone receptors are specific binding sites, embedded in the cell membrane or elsewhere that interact with a particular hormone or class of hormones

Question 19

which glands are important for reproductive endocrinology

Answer 19

hypothalamus (controls hormone secretion)
pituitary gland (hormone secretion control)
adrenal (salt and carb metabolism, inflammation, arousal)
gonads (body development and maintenance of reproductive organs)

Question 20

describe the study done in the hormones in first time expectant parents

Answer 20

examined: prenatal hormones in first time expectant parents
29 couples, assessed salivary testosterone, cortisol, estradiol and progesterone, and examined changes over multiple prenatal time points.
goal: to what extent do couple’s hormones correlated during prenatal period?

findings: women’s testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and cortisol increased during pregnancy, declines after birth. men showed declines in testosterone and estradiol, but no changes in cortisol or progesterone