Reproductive endocrinology Flashcards
what are the 2 sequential steps involved in sexual differentiation
- establishment of genetic sex (XX or XY)
- translation of genetic sex into gonadal sex (ovaries or testis)
- translation of gonadal sex into phenotypic sex (secondary characteristics + reproductive organs)
About the X chromosome
- 160 megabases
- 5% of haploid genome
- encodes 850 proteins of which several regulate gametogenesis and hypothalamus-pituitary functions BUT most result non-reproductive functions
About the Y chromosome
- 60 megabaess long (2% of genome)
- encodes 57 proteins of which most genes regulate reproductive functions
most genes found on the X chromosome regulate reproductive functions. true or false
false, most genes regulate non-reproductive functions
what is Klinefelter syndrome
47 chromosomes with XXY
what is Turner’s syndrome
45 chromosomes with XO
which genotype of sex chromosomes is nonviable
45 chromosomes OY
what causes sex chromosome aneuploidy
nondisjunction of sister chromatids during meiosis
what causes sex chromosome mosaicism
nondisjunction of sister chromatids in zygote
if there is a Y chromosome with the ____ gene, there will always be a ____ phenotype
Y chromosome with functional SRY -> male
what does the non-viability of OY confirm?
Confirms that X chromosome is important for development of female reproductive tract but also for non-reproductive functions such as development of embryo
the Wolffian duct develops in _____
male reproductive tract
the Mullerian duct develops in ______
female reproductive tract
the ______ will differentiate into external genitalia depending on ______
urogenital sinus
depending reproductive tract
_____ are essential for male sexual differentiation, but the _____ are not necessary for female differentiation
testes are necessary for male sexual differentiation
ovaries are not necessary for female differentiation
germ cells are not _____ in origin
gonadal
pathway to go from primordial germ cells to testis or ovaries
- primordial germ cells differentiate in allantoic ectoderm
- they migrate into endoderm
- migration along endoderm and hindgut to the genital ridges
- genital ridges develop in ovaries or testis depending on the sex chromosomes brought by primordial germ cells
how do the primordial germ cells migrate
HORMONAL guiding with secretion of local factors
- they put be polar during migration
- migration involves cell protrusion and adhesion in the leading edge and retraction of the lagging edge
- guiding cells biochemically direct the migration
what is the typical male development events during gestation
- germ cell migration until genital ridges -> differentiation into testis (week 5-6)
- Sertoli cells -> Mullerian duct regression
- Leydig cell -> Wolffian duct stabilization
- Male external genital differentiation
- external genital growth (week 20)
____ cells are involved in regression of the Mullerian duct and _____ cells stabilize the Wolffian duct
Sertoli cells -> regression of M duct
Leydig cells -> stabilization of W duct
what are the 3 pre-requisites for normal sex differentiation
- normal intact chromosome complement
- fully functioning sex determination genes
- intact steroidogenic pathway and receptors
genital ridges are considered to be _____ as they can differentiation either into testis or ovaries
bipotential
_____ are the regions on the X and Y chromosome s that can undergo recombination
Pseudoautosomal region PAR
the _____ region of the Y chromosome contains the ______ gene that allows for development of the testis
Male specific region of Y (MSY) contains the Sex determining region of Y (SRY)
how can fertilization by sperm produces an XX male?
The SRY gene is located very closely to the PAR1 region that undergoes recombination. Therefore, if there is recombination beyond PAR1, the SRY gene will be transferred to X chromosome leading to a sperm with X + SRY => fertilization by sperm produce an XX male
how can XY genotype result in an female phenotype
the Y chromosome may have a deletes/muted SRY gene therefore the primordial gonad will develop into an ovary -> XY female
what is the role of the HMG box found on the SRY gene
HMG box is the DNA binding domain which can regulate transcription of target genes
what are the consequences of mutations in the DNA binding domain of SRY gene
non-functional SRY -> female phenotype development although XY chromosomes
gonadial differentiation is based on the presence or absence of _____
SRY
development of testes depend on _____ and _____ factors
transcription and paracrine factors
which transcription factor gene is expressed by SRY
SOX9
SOX9 drives the expression of _____ and ____ which are paracrine factors
FGF9, Amh, PGD2
If there is no SRY, there is no SOX9 thus the biopotential gonad develops into ovary due to _____, _____, and ____
WNT4, RSPO1, FOXL2
if there is an ovary, the ____ duct continues to grow and _____ duct undergoes regression
mullerian duct
wolffian duct
if there is testis, the _____ duct undergoes regression
mullerian duct
How does the presence of testes results in male reproductive tract development?
if there are testes, Sertoli cells produce anti-mullerian hormones which bind to TGF-beta receptor 2 causing heterodimerization with TGF-beta receptor 1
-> phosphorylation of TGF-bR1 drives phosphorylate of transcription factors Smad: heterodimerization of Smad2 and 3 followed by trimerization with Smad4
Trimer complex translocates from cytoplasm to nucleus and binds to promoter region of genes expressing pro-apoptotic genes causing regression of mullerian duct
which genes cause regression of mullerian duct
pro-apoptotic genes
which nuclear receptor signals regression of wolffian duct, resulting in female reproductive tract and phenotype
NR2F2
what is the mechanism of action of NR2F2
NR2F2 inhibits FGF paracrine factor allowing for Wolffian duct regression
which are the survival factors for Wolffian duct
FGF
what are the various errors that can occur during sex differentiation
- defects in testosterone synthesis or actions
2. congenital adrenal hyperplasia
what are the consequences of defects in testosterone synthesis or actions
androgen insensitivity syndrome -> there is testicular feminization
- phenotypic female with XY genotype
- no ovaries
- gonads develop into testes but cryptorchidism (undescended testicle)
- infertile (spermatogenesis is disrupted)
- blind ending vagina
in androgen insensitivity disorders, where can the error come from?
there is either disruption/problem with any of the enzymes involved in steroidogenesis converting cholesterol into androgen (steroidogenesisi stops at previous step) OR all the enzymes are functional and androgen metabolites are produced in sufficient amounts BUT problem is at the receptor level
what is congenital adrenal hyperplasia CAH
masculinization of external genitalia at birth due to hyperplasia of adrenal glands before birth -> excessive androgen production -> masculinization of genitalia
which enzyme is mission in CAH that causes reduced synthesis of aldosterone and cortisol but excessive androgen production
CYP21A2