Reproduction Lectures 2021 - THE ENDOCRINOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION Flashcards
The brain controls…
reproduction (through GnRH)
GnRH containing neurons mainly located in the…
ARCUATE nucleus within the hypothalamus
Posterior pituitary
extension of Hypothalamus with the SON & PVN neurons extending down into the posterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary
governed by hormones released from hypothalamus into the portal blood supply (“Hypothalamic-hypophysial portal system”)
- the ARCUATE NUCLEI that will be in the hypothalamus synapse with the neurohemal area known as the MEDIAN EMINENCE, & the contents of those neurons that are dumped into the portal blood supply flow down into the anterior pituitary & in the context of GnRH - will target the GONADOTROPHS (will ultimately syn. & release LH & FSH)
Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) is known as the…
master sex hormone
Originally, for GnRH thought that…
2 hormones were involved LHRH & FSHRH
In the absence of GnRH…
you won’t get:
- syn. & release of LH & FSH
- syn. & promototion of sex steroid production from the gonads in either males or females
Concentration of GnRH in the circulation is…
really LOW & practically undetectable
Where will you find GnRH in abundance?
sample blood from the portal blood supply
- v. HIGH concen. within the portal blood supply
GnRH as a molecule (Pre-pro GnRH)
Pre-pro GnRH:
Signal peptide - 23 AA’s
Mature peptide - 10 AA’s
3aa
GnRH-associated peptide (GAP) - 56 AA’s
Which peptide is the bioactive peptide?
mature peptide
Tonic pulses in both sexes every…
1-3h
Tonic pulses of GnRH are critical for…
normal function & release of FSH & LH
GnRH pulse generator influences…
syn. & release of FSH & LH
Continued administration of GnRH will..
inhibit FSH & LH release - downregulation of GnRH signalling pathway
Diff. mech’s proposed for pulse generation:
- Threshold of release & autocrine regulation
2. Stimulation via NE & local inhibition via Dopamine or GABA (universal inhibitor for neural function)
What was studied mostly in rats & mice (mammalian studies)?
if you elevate levels of GnRH, you’ll ultimately inhibit FSH & LH levels
- so if you maintain really high levels all the time, you’ll get an inhibition of those peptide hormones
GnRH with a nerve cell
GnRH released & will act on itself to promote release of GnRH, but once that threshold is hit, then you start to get a reversal of that autocrine regulation & it shuts off (sort of self-regulating feedback control)
- if that is based on that threshold you’ll get pulses of GnRH release as more is released
Kisspeptin
imp. hormone that will promote GnRH release
regulated by estrodial (E2) which also promotes kisspeptin release depending on the circulating concen. of estrodial
High plasma estrogen (females)
+ feedback on GnRH –> ↑ GnRH –> ↑ FSH & LH –> Ovary –> Ovulation
+ feedback setpoint
- estrogens will target kisspeptin which will promote ↑ GnRH from the arcuate nuclei
- might get further ↑E2
Moderate plasma estrogen (females) or androgen (males)
- feedback on GnRH –> ↓ GnRH –> ↓ FSH & LH –> Gonad –> ↓ estrogen or ↓ androgen
- feedback setpoint
- classic/normal in males
- still androgens being produced but it acts as a (-) feedback regulation, so you won’t get v. high plasma levels of androgens in the same way as you get v. high levels of estrogens within females
Low plasma estrogen (females) or androgen (males)
no feedback on GnRH –> ↑ GnRH –> ↑ FSH & LH –> Gonad –> ↑ estrogen or ↑ androgen
In males, prepubertal period LH and FSH are…
not secreted
GnRH secretion begins slowly at the onset of puberty
What sets the wheels in motion (in terms of puberty)?
hard to know exactly
- Energy requirement
- Genetic basis in timing to this
- Melatonin (linked to HPG axis)
- varies depending on season
Describe GnRH in males
Hypothalamus –> +ve to FSH & LH
FSH –> +ve to Sertoli cells –> +ve to spermatogenesis, ABP, Inhibin
Inhibin –> -ve to FSH
LH –> +ve to Leydig cells –> testosterone –> +ve to Sertoli cells & -ve to hypothalamus (close GnRH prod. & inhibit both FSH & LH release from ant. pituitary)
FSH target cells involved in…
gamete syn.
LH target cells involved in…
steroid syn.
Inhibin
selectively (-)ly feedsback on FSH in partic. & will limit prod. of FSH from ant. pituitary
ABP
imp. within the seminiferous tubule, so it can bind testosterone & also it is released in the blood
Spermatogenesis
all things related to dev. of sperm