Reproductive Endocrinology

Question 1

Ovulation coincides with a spike in ________ levels

Answer 1

LH

*and FSH to lesser extent

Question 2

Hypothalamic hormone that stimulates the release of LH and FSH

Answer 2

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)

Question 3

Why does FSH begin to rise a few days after Menses

Answer 3

Falling levels of Inhibin, Progesterone and Estrogen (from last month’s failing Corpus Luteum)

Question 4

After days ___, FSH levels are falling due to inc. Inhibin and Estradiol; will select a particular follicle still sensitive to FSH, which will be the one to ovulate

Answer 4

1-5

Question 5

Increasing levels of __________ throughout the proliferative phase causes endometrial growth

Answer 5

Estradiol

Question 6

High Estradiol (>200 pg/mL) sustained over 2 days causes the massive release of what hormone

Answer 6

LH

Question 7

In response to the ______ surge, the oocyte is released and completes Meiosis I

Answer 7

LH

Question 8

After ovulation, the ___________ and ___________ cells form the Corpus Luteum and secrete Estradiol and Progesterone.

Answer 8

Granulosa and Thecal

Question 9

Medical term for Ovulation or Midcycle pain; usually ONE-sided; can be mistaken for appendicitis

Answer 9

Mittelschmerz

Question 10

Purpose of Estradiol, Progesterone and Inhibin secretion from Corpus Luteum after ovulation.

Answer 10

Suppress FSH production from Pituitary; maintain thick endometrium; proliferation of glands and spiral arteries

Question 11

The Corpus Luteum usually atrophies around _____ days after ovulation unless rescued by hCG (closely mimics LH) from the developing placenta

Answer 11

9-11

Question 12

What hormone, from the developing placenta, helps prevent the atrophy of the Corpus Luteum

Answer 12

hCG (closely mimics LH)

Question 13

At the end of the Menstrual/uterine cycle, a decline in ____, _____, and _______ results in the sloughing of the Endometrium

Answer 13

Progesterone, Estradiol, and inhibin

Question 14

By Week _____ of gestation, the placenta takes over as the main source of steroid hormones, allowing the Corpus Luteum to finally atrophy

Answer 14

8

Question 15

Sensitive methods of detecting _______ in the urine is the main method for pregnancy tests

Answer 15

hCG (made from developing placenta)

Question 16

The production of thin, watery elastic cervical mucous via the ________ test indicates period of _______ (close to ovulation) due to high levels of __________.

Answer 16

Spinnbarkeit; maximal fertility; estrogen

Question 17

Progesterone levels are elevated after day ______ of the menstrual cycle due to the Corpus Luteum

Answer 17

14

Question 18

The difference between the first and second half of the menstrual cycle is the elevation of __________________

Answer 18

Progesterone (from the Corpus Luteum)

Question 19

The Granulosa cells of the Follicle are responsible for secreting….

Answer 19

Estrogen (Early)

Estrogen and Progesterone (Late)

Question 20

Theca Interna cells of the Ovary respond to _________ to secrete androstenedione necessary to stimulate the Granulosa to make estrogen

Answer 20

LH

Question 21

Progesterone has a negative feedback effect on the Hypothalamus-Pituitary during what phase of the Menstrual cycle

Answer 21

Days 15-24 (post-ovulation/luteal phase/secretory phase)

Question 22

Cholesterol is converted into pregnenolone by ______ which is responsible for rate limiting step in steroid synthesis.

Answer 22

cholesterol desmolase

Question 23

cholesterol desmolase in ____ cells (in female) is stimulated by ____

Answer 23

theca; LH

Question 24

Different types of estrogen

Answer 24

estrone (ovary, adipose tissue, skin, liver)
estradiol (ovary)
estriol (placenta)

Question 25

activation of transcriptional processes or signaling events that control gene expression

Answer 25

genomic pathway

Question 26

binding of plasma membrane receptors and activation of second messenger cascade

Answer 26

non-genomic pathway

Question 27

estrogen signal primarily through a (genomic/non-genomic) pathway but can do both.

Answer 27

genomic pathway

Question 28

______ stimulates proliferation of endometrium during proliferation phase of uterus.

_______ stimulates maturation of glands and spiral arteries in endometrium during secretory phase of uterus.

Answer 28

estrogen; progesterone

Question 29

Unlike female ovary theca and granulosa cells, male testes have only _____ where testosterone is produced from cholesterol.

Answer 29

Leydig cells

Question 30

Testosterone can be converted into DHT (more potent androgen) by

Answer 30

5a-reductase

Question 31

_____ is synthesized in Leydig cells and diffuses to _____ cells where it binds to ABP. ABP production is stimulated by _____.

Answer 31

testosterone; Sertoli; FSH