Reproduction (Day 1) Flashcards
What are the two types of cells?
Germ Cells: ova, sperm
Somatic Cells: everything else
What causes most growth and development?
Mitosis
Gametogenesis: Males
large numbers of gametes produced continuously from stem cells
begins at puberty until senescence (lowered testosterone production)
Gametogenesis: Females
release only one gamete at a time from a limited pool of preformed gametes
process repeated at regular monthly intervals
Gametogenesis: Summary
begins in utero - mitotic divisions to increase germ cell number (pauses at birth, resumes at puberty)
timing varies by gender
Oocyte production
Primary oocytes
a. Toward end of gestation, female’s oogonia begin meiosis to produce primary oocytes.
b. The ovaries of a newborn girl have 2 million primary oocytes.
c. By puberty, this number is cut to about 400,000.
d. Only about 400 of these will be ovulated in her lifetime.
Primary oocytes contained within primary follicles–have one layer of cells
a) In response to FSH, some of the primary follicles grow to produce many layers of granulosa cells.
b) Some develop fluid-filled vesicles called secondary follicles.
Continued growth results in fused vesicles to form a single antrum; this is a mature Graafian follicle.
As Graafian follicle grows, the primary oocyte finishes meiosis I to become secondary oocyte (plus a polar body, which soon degenerates).
The secondary oocyte begins meiosis II, but stops at metaphase II.
Meiosis II will complete, only if there is fertilization of the ovum.
Sex determination in embryo
Sperm determines genetic sex of zygote
X
If zygote contains a Y chromosome….
Male
even if multiple X’s
If zygote gets only Y, but no X…
–> lethal (X chromosome is vital for survival)
X-inactivation in females
early in development, after ovaries develop, one X in each body cell inactivates, becomes Barr body
— inactivation is random—some may be sperm-derived, others may be ovum-derived
In a Barr Body: female gets rid of one of X chromosomes so that only one is viable in gametes
—random inactivation of one of the X chromosomes
Chromosomal sex & development of embryonic gonads
Genetic sex is detained by which sex chromosome is carried by the sperm
Key gene (SRY/TDF) is carried on Y chromosome
- if sperm contributes Y: SRY expression stimulates tests differentiation
- if sperm contributes X: lack of SRY allows ovary differentiation
SRY
Sex Determining Region
(aka TDF - Testis Determining Region)
no SRY = female
SRY = male
Sex differentiation in early development: internal organs
Regardless of genetic sex, embryo has potential to become phenotypically male or female—female pattern occurs unless humoral signals are released from fetal testis
-Depends upon presence of SRY gene on Y chromosome
If female –> no SRY expression, biopotential gonads –> ovaries
If male –> SRY expression elicits gonads –> testes
Testes produce masculinization factors (testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH]
What is required for male external genitalia?
SRY and production of dihydrotestosterone
–> NOT testosterone (which is not produced until testes differentiate)
Masculinization
- due to testosterone
- converted to DHT (dihydroxytestosterone)
- changes occur in brain development
From birth to puberty— period of reproductive senescence
- testes stop producing testosterone by 3rd trimester, ovaries don’t produce embryonic sex hormone
- sex hormone secretion does not resume until gonads are stimulated at puberty
- onset of puberty: anterior pituitary begins releasing gonadotropic hormones
Onset of Puberty
-secretion of FSH and LH elevated at birth/stays high for first 6 mo. –> declines to almost 0 until puberty
- puberty begins w/release of LH (pulsatile)
- -results in increase in testosterone or estradiol-17 secretion
- -these hormones produce secondary sex characteristics
Puberty
maturation of hypothalamic-pitutacy axis: seems to be associated w/childhood nutrition, age of menarche has decreased in Western societies as energy intake has increased
- pulsatile secretion of GnRH increases –> secretion of LH, FSH
- as energy intake increases –> increased storage of TG in adipose –> increased leptin secretion
Age of the onset of puberty
- depends on activity level/amount of body fat
- leptin secreted by adipose cells: required for onset
- exercise may inhibit GnRH secretion (ex. more active, slimmer girls begin puberty later)
What are the three effects of FSH and LH (produced in the anterior pituitary glands)?
- stim of spermatogenesis or oogenesis
- stim of gonadal hormone secretion
- maintenance of the structures of the gonads
Interaction between hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and gonads
Release of FSH and LH controlled by the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus.
Regulated by negative-feedback loop where rising levels of gonadal hormone:
1) Inhibit GnRH release
2) Inhibit pituitary response to GnRH
Hormonal Control of Hypothalamus
- GnRH release is pulsatile in both genders (every 1-3 hours): necessary for optimal pituitary sensitivity to GnRH
- LH, FSH act via feedback inhibition on GnRH release
- release of LH, FSH stim by low levels of gonadal steroids (when steroids increase –> usually get feedback inhibition of LH/FSH)
- But if estrogen increases, you can get stim of gonadotropin (LH) release
Male Reproduction: gross anatomy
Accessory Glands:
seminal vessels
prostate
bulbourethral glands
glands secrete fluids which lubricate tubular system and nutrients (ex. fructose) to support energy usage by sperm
fluid from seminal vesicles constitutes for about 70% of total semen volume
placement of testis outside of abdominal cavity maintains lower temp (necessary for sperm development)
Testis: Duct of Epididymidis
MALE
site of maturation and storage of sperm
FSH receptors (on sertoli cells)
Testis: Seminiferous Tubule
MALE
site of sperm production
Testis: smooth muscle contraction
during arousal/ejaculation, contraction of smooth muscles around epidermal duct advance sperm –> vas deferent –> urethra
Leydig Cells
produce/secrete testosterone in response to LH
active in fetus –> virtually disappear after first 6 mo. until puberty
Sertoli Cells
regulation of sperm development
secrete proteins necessary for sperm development (ex. androgen-binding protein) in response to FSH and testosterone
–> sperm don’t have receptors for testosterone (sertoli cells do)
Hormonal Control of Spermatogenesis
- neg feedback effects of testosterone and inhibin maintain relatively consistent secretion of gndtrpns in male
- andrgn secretion decreases slowly in females to hypogonadal state by age 70
- other factors affecting testosterone secretion: physical inactivity, obesity, drugs
Fimbriae
FEMALE
partially wrap around ovaries, catch oocyte after ovulation