Reproduction and Development Flashcards
Female: Mons pubis
secretion of pheromones (sexual attraction)
Female: Labia majora
role of protection and lubricating secretion
Female: Labia minora
rich in blood vessel, sensitive to stimulation
Female: Clitoris
very sensitive to sexual stimulation and can erect
Bartholin’s glands
secretion of thick fluid for lubrication during intercourse
Where does fertilisation take place?
Fallopian tubes
Where does the zygote move into?
Uterus
What are the two cell types found in the uterus?
- Germ cells (oocyte)
- Somatic cells
Ovarian functions
- Gametogenesis: oogenesis and folliculogenesis
- Steroidogenesis (production of hormones: oestrogens and progesterone)
Oogenesis
- Differentiation of the ovum into a cell competent to further develop when fertilised
- Occurs in the ovary
- Primary oocytes (primordial follicles): 1-2 million at birth, 300,000-400,000 at puberty, 10% released during the reproductive life (until menopause), apoptotic cell death
Process of oogenesis
- Oogonia divide by meiosis during embryonic development and stop
- Oocytes remain arrested until ovulation
- Meiosis is not completed until fertilisation
- Lifetime supply of developing eggs at birth
Which hormone stimulates follicular growth?
GnRH stimulates the pituitary gland to produce follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the hormone responsible for starting follicle (egg) development and causing the level of estrogen, the primary female hormone, to rise
Which hormone causes ovulation?
Estrogen
Which cells of the follicle make oestrogen and progesterone?
Granulosa cells are the cellular source of estradiol and progesterone, the two most important ovarian steroids
What is the name of the follicle that is most mature?
The graafian, or mature, follicle may be up to 2.5 cm in diameter at the time of ovulation, and it protrudes from the surface of the ovary. An outer layer of theca cells and granulosa cells surround a vesicle containing fluid and the oocyte
What does the follicle become after ovulation?
The cells in the ovarian follicle that are left behind after ovulation undergo a transformation and become the so called corpus luteum and secrete progesterone
Folliculogenesis
Folliculogenesis is the developmental process of ovarian follicles starting from a reserve of quiescent primordial follicles set up in early life and ending with either ovulation or follicular death by atresia.
How long is the ovarian cycle?
27-29 days
What is ovulation
Ovulation is the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary. After it’s released, the egg moves down the fallopian tube and stays there for 12 to 24 hours, where it can be fertilized
Follicular phase of the ovarian cycle
1-14th day,
the follicular phase is the stage of your menstrual cycle when your body is preparing to release an egg. This is a necessary process for pregnancy. Once the egg is released, the follicular phase is considered over
Luteal phase of the ovarian cycle
14-28th day, the luteal phase is the second half of your menstrual cycle. It starts after ovulation and ends with the first day of your period
Can pregnancy occur with low levels of LH?
If your LH levels are low, you may not be getting your period. Because LH triggers ovulation, low levels of LH can prevent ovulation, and thus pregnancy
High levels of LH
When the body’s levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) rise, it triggers the start of ovulation, and the most fertile period of the menstrual cycle occurs
What happens if FSH is low?
In women, a lack of follicle stimulating hormone leads to incomplete development at puberty and poor ovarian function (ovarian failure). In this situation ovarian follicles do not grow properly and do not release an egg, thus leading to infertility
FSH
In women, FSH helps manage the menstrual cycle and stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs.
High levels of FSH
If you are a woman, high FSH levels may mean you have: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), also known as premature ovarian failure
Steroidogenesis
All follicles are in competition with each other for FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone).
In response to FSH, follicular cells synthesise oestrogen which feed back to the hypothalamus.
Only one or two leading follicles will form graafian follicles.
As negative feedback is exerted, the other developing follicles undergo atresia.
Once ovulation has occurred, the Graafian follicle turns into the corpus luteum and secretes progesterone.
What does progesterone maintain?
The uterine lining for embryo implantation
Gonadotropin hormones
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone causes the pituitary gland in the brain to make and secrete the hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In men, these hormones cause the testicles to make testosterone. In women, they cause the ovaries to make estrogen and progesterone
What happens to gonadotropin hormones during the luteal phase?
Gonadotropin secretion is strongly suppressed by progesterone and oestrogen = no further follicular growth
Fertilisation
Corpus luteum is maintained by a hormone secreted by the embryo after implantation (human Chorionic Gonadotropin: hCG)
No fertilisation (or failure of implantation)
Corpus luteum dies after approx. two weeks. Progesterone and oestrogen levels fall, anterior pituitary escapes from the negative feedback. Results in increase in gonadotrophin levels and the start of the follicular phase of the next cycle
- Follicular phase
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted from the anterior pituitary and stimulates growth of ovarian follicles
The dominant follicle produces estrogen, which inhibits FSH secretion (negative feedback) to prevent other follicles growing
Estrogen acts on the uterus to stimulate the thickening of the endometrial layer
- Ovulation
Midway through the cycle (~ day 12), estrogen stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete hormones (positive feedback)
This positive feedback results in a large surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and a lesser surge of FSH
LH causes the dominant follicle to rupture and release an egg (secondary oocyte) – this is called ovulation
- Luteal phase
The ruptured follicle develops into a slowly degenerating corpus luteum
The corpus luteum secretes high levels of progesterone, as well as lower levels of oestrogen
Estrogen and progesterone act on the uterus to thicken the endometrial lining (in preparation for pregnancy)
Estrogen and progesterone also inhibit secretion of FSH and LH, preventing any follicles from developing
- Menstruation
If fertilisation occurs, the developing embryo will implant in the endometrium and release hormones to sustain the corpus luteum
If fertilisation doesn’t occur, the corpus luteum eventually degenerates (forming a corpus albicans after ~ 2 weeks)
When the corpus luteum degenerates, estrogen and progesteron levels drop and the endometrium can no longer be maintained
The endometrial layer is sloughed away and eliminated from the body as menstrual blood (i.e. a woman’s period)
As estrogen and progesterone levels are too now low to inhibit the anterior pituitary, the cycle can now begin again
Where are the sperm produced?
Testes, seminiferous tubes
Cells involved in the testes
- Sertoli cells
- Leydig cells
Sertoli cells
aid in synthesis of sperm (nurse cells)
Leydig cells
produce testosterone
Testicular function
- Gametogenesis: spermatogenesis (spermatocytogenesis + spermiogenesis) differentiation of the spermatogonia into a sperm competent to move and fertilize
- Steroidogenesis (production of hormone: testosterone)
Spermatogenesis
- ‘Unlimited’ sperm supply: 200 to 300 million daily
- Optimal temperature is at 2C lower than core body temperature
- Duration = 74 days
- Decrease in sperm quality (after 35 y/o)
What can impact spermatogenesis and sperm quality?
Smoking increases DNA damage in sperm, marijuana decreases sperm production
What can impact spermatogenesis and sperm quality?
Smoking increases DNA damage in sperm, marijuana decreases sperm production
- Trauma and cancer
Spermacytogenesis
- Meiosis = from one diploid spermatocyte to four haploid spematids
- Occurs in the testis after puberty
Spermiogenesis
- Maturation of a round spermatid into a mature sperm
Four steps of spermiogenesis
- Golgi phase: intense golgi activity, mid-piece formation and DNA packaging (protamines)
- Cap phase: acrosome formation
- Tail phase: elongation of microtubules
- Maturation: removing residual cytoplasm and organelles by phagocytosis
Epididymis functions
- Storage:
- Sertoli cells secrete testicular fluid
- Sperm reach the epididymis (to be stored until ejaculation) - Sperm motility:
- Mature immotile sperm acquiring motility function
Inhibitin B
- Secreted by Sertoli cells
- FSH dependant
Testosterone
- Development of male reproductive tissues
- Secondary sexual characteristics at puberty: muscle and bone mass increase, growth of body hair and size of penis
- Secreted by Leydig cells
- LH dependant
What is meiosis?
Succession of two cell division:
- Separation of homologous chromosomes
- Separation of sister chromatids
Phases of meiosis
- Prophase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
- Cytokinesis
Aims of meiosis:
- producing haploid gametes (cycle of life)
2. introducing genetic diversity
How is diversity implemented through meiosis
- Intra-chromosomal recombination: crossing over
- Inter-chromosomal recombination: assortment
- Random fertilisation
Chromosomes
Human diploid somatic cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes:
- 22 autosomal pairs and 1 sexual pair
- 46 chromosomes (23 paternal and 23 maternal)
What are two chromosomes in each pair called?
Homologous chromosomes or homologs
- Chromosomes in a homologous pair are the same length except the sexual pair XY
The result of mitosis
Two diploid cells (somatic cells, with no genetic variation = identical daughter cells)
The result of meiosis
Four haploid cells (with genetic diversity)
How is meiosis regulated in males?
In spermatogenesis, sperm cells do not form until the male has reached puberty. Each parent cell produces 4 sperm cells
How is meiosis regulated in females?
In oogenesis, only one oocyte is formed from the parent cell. The other 3 cells (called polar bodies) degenerate. The first meiotic division has taken place after the female is born. Maturation continues after puberty when an egg is released (end of meiosis I) and fertilised (end of meiosis II)
What is aneuploidy?
Aneuploidy means an organism does not have the normal number of chromosomes (failure in chromosome separation in meiosis)
Monosomic
If there is 1 less chromosome, this is referred to as monosomic, abbreviated as 2n - 1
Trisomic
If there is 1 extra chromosome, this is called trisomic, abbreviated as 2n + 1