Reproductive Endocrinology and The Menstrual cycle Flashcards
what are the two main molecules involved in development
- steroids
- glycoproteins
what are steroids
- lipids characterised by a 27 carbon skeleton with four fused rings and with a variety of groups attached
how do steroids pass through the cell membrane
- lipophilic - this means that they pass through cell membrane by simple diffusion and bind to their receptor which can be nuclear or cytoplasmic
name the steroids and there size
- testosterone = 288Da
- oestradiol = 272 Da
- progesterone = 314 Da
- cortisol = 362 Da
what is the core molecules of the steroids oestrogens progesterone and testosterone.
Cholesterol is the central core molecule
what are the three oestrogen molecules
oestradiol E2 - most common
oestriol E3 - only found in pregnancy
oestrone E1
what are the differences due to in steroids
- due to functional groups attached to the four ring structures
describe o estradiol
- oestrogen
- C18 steroids
describe progesterone
- progestagens
- C21 steroids
describe testosterone
- androgens
- C19 steroids
Where is testosterone produced in males and in females
Males
- Ledwig
Females
Thecal cells (ovary)(25%), adrenals (25%)
peripheral conversion in adipose tissue (50%)
where is dihydrotestosterone produced in males and in females
Males
- Conversion from testosterone in Sertoli cells (testes) and target tissues
Females
- peripheral conversion from testosterone
where is in progesterone in males and in females
Males
- Adrenals
Females
- Corpus luteum (ovary), syncytiotrophoblasts (placenta)
- (adrenals as an intermediate)
where is oestradiol produced in males and in females
Males
- Peripheral conversion from testosterone (depending on presence of aromatase) (eg adipose tissue)
Females
- Granulosa cells (ovary), peripheral conversion from testosterone
- syncytiotrophoblasts (placenta)
where is androstenedione produced in males and females
Males
Leydig cells, adrenals
Females Ovary (50%), adrenals (50%)
where is dehydropiandrosterone produced in males and females
Males
Leydig cells, adrenals
Females Ovary (20%), adrenals (80%)
what does the first step in steroid synthesis
the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone
- requires oxidative enzymes located in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum
How does steroid synthesis happen in males
- GnRH stimulates follicle stimulating hormone and LH secretion by anterior pituitary
- LH stimulates testosterone production by leydig cells
- main target of testosterone and pituitary FSH are sertoli cells
- in the Sertoli cells the enzyme 5alpha reductase converts testosterone to DHT
- Sertoli cells then secrete androgen binding protein (ABP)
- ABP binds to testosterone and carries it to the semiferouh tubule where it stimulates spermatogenesis
how does steroid synthesis happen in females
- LH stimulates testosterone production by theca cells in the ovarian follicle
- testosterone enters granucosa cells where it is converted by aromatase into oestrogen
- oestradiol stimulates formation of LH receptors on granulosa cells
- this will enable follicle to respond to LH surge thus giving rise to ovulation
what do granulsoa cells surround
it surrounds the oocyte
what do androgens do
- Maintain male somatic tissue differentiation
- Induce male secondary sexual characteristics
- Support spermatogenesis
- Influence sexual and aggressive behaviour (male & female)
- Promote protein anabolism, somatic growth & ossification
- Regulate gonadotrophin secretion (testosterone)
- Induce body hair (in females – pubic & axillary)