Reproductive System Flashcards
in humans what is sex determined by?
X and Y chromosomes
how many chromosomes are in diploid cells?
46 or 23 pairs
how many chromosomes are found in haploid gametes?
23 chromosomes including one of either X or Y
what is the role of the Y chromosome in sex determination?
determines sex
how are haploid gametes created?
meiosis
how does meiosis differ between spermatocyte and oocyte?
cell division in oocyte is uneven and produces one egg cell and the polar bodies to ensure egg receives all essential materials
what are 2 abnormalities of sex chromosomes?
Turners Syndrome
Klinefelter’s Syndrome
what is the genotype of someone with Turners Syndrome?
X0 - one X, no Y
what is the genotype of someone with Klinefelter’s Syndrome?
XXY - two X and one Y
what is the phenotype of someone with Turner’s syndrome?
female
what is the phenotype of someone with Klinefelter’s Syndrome?
male (male genitalia, may have feminine characteristics)
what does the Y chromosome determine?
maleness - presence of testis
what gene on the Y chromosome determines presence of testis?
SRY gene
what is the role of the SRY gene?
determines production of TDF
what is TDF?
testis determining factor
what is the role of TDF?
causes undifferentiated gonad to become testis
what is androgen insensitivity syndrome?
partial or complete inability to respond to androgens - genetic makeup is male but due to AIS there is female phenotype
what are sex hormones responsible for in development?
sex determination
what hormone is from the family prostagens?
progesterone
what hormone is from the family androgens?
testosterone
what hormone is from the family oestrogens?
oestrogen (oestrodiol 17beta)
what is the precursor to the sex hormones?
cholesterol
what type of hormones are sex hormones?
steroid
what are the main female sex hormones?
oestrogen (oestrodiol 17beta)
progesterone
what is the main male sex hormone?
testosterone
how are oestrogens produced?
cholesterol is converted to progesterone through enzyme action. Progesterone is converted to testosterone and then testosterone to oestrogens via enzyme action for both stages.
what occurs in the ampulla of the uterine tube?
fertilisation of the egg
what is the role of the fimbria?
uptake of the ovulated ovum from the ovary
what are the 2 main functions of the ovary?
gametogenic and endocrine
what is gametogenic function?
production of gametes
what is the purpose of the endocrine function of the ovaries?
ensures right environment for development of gametes
what is the oestrous cycle named after?
oestrus
what is oestrus?
behavioral changes associated with sexual receptivity (heat)
what is the oestrous cycle formed of?
physiological changes that occur between one oestrus and the next
what is the oestrous cycle known as in humans?
menstrual cycle
what is the importance of oestrus?
occurs just before ovulation and optimises the chance of successful fertilization
what occurs in the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle in the ovary?
primordial follicles grow and develop with the oocyte within them
what happens during pro-oestrus?
follicles develop
what happens during oestrus?
behavioral changes
what happens at ovulation?
oocyte is released from the follicle
when does metoestrus occur?
between ovulation and formation of the corpus luteum
what occurs during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle?
corpus luteum is formed from the degraded follicle and then breaks down
what is the dominant hormone during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle?
oestrogen
what is the dominant hormone during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle?
progesterone
what oocytes are female mammals born with?
finite number of primary oocytes
what stage of development do primary oocytes remain in until ovulation?
arrested state of development in prophase of first meiotic division
when does the menopause occur?
when no oocytes remain in the ovary
what is the name of the fist oocyte found pre-birth?
oogonium
how is the primary oocyte created pre-birth?
growth of the oocyte from oogonium
when does the first meiotic division of oocyte occur?
ovulation
what does the first meiotic division of oocyte at ovulation produce?
secondary oocyte and a first polar body
when does second meiotic division of the oocyte take place?
fertilisation
what does the second meiotic division of oocyte at fertilisation produce?
ootid (ovum) and second polar body
what cells is the primordial follicle surrounded by?
flat cells
what happens during stage 1 of follicular development?
oocyte increases in size
granulosa cells switch from flat to cuboidal
what is formed in stage 2 of follicular development?
zona pellucida
what is the zona pellucida?
acellular glycoprotein layer around the oocyte
what happens to granulosa cells during stages 3-5 of follicular development?
mitosis to produce 4 layers around the zona pellucida
what happens to the cells around the follicles during stages 3-5?
blood capillaries invade cells surrounding follicles (theca interna)
what is the theca interna?
connective tissue layer surrounding the granulosa cells
what happens during stage 6 of follicular development?
fluid forms in between granulosa cells
what is the name for the fluid filled spaces created during stage 6 of follicular development?
antrum
what is the name of the follicle at stage 7?
Graafian follicle
what happens at stage 7 of follicular development?
liquor folliculi builds up to from antrum
oocyte is pushed to one side and is surrounded by cumulus oophorus
what is the name of the fluid that creates the antrum in follicular development?
liquor folliculi
what is the cumulus oophorus?
1-2 layers of granulosa cells which surround the oocyte after the formation of the antrum
what happens during stage 8 of follicular development?
innermost layer of cumulus oophorus becomes columnar and forms corona radiata
what happens during stage 9 of follicular development?
ovulation has occurred, corpus oophorus remains in place around oocyte. The follicle becomes corpus luteum
what is the corpus luteum formed from?
follicle that remains after ovulation
what stages of follicular development are hormone independent?
stage 1-5
what stages of follicular development are hormone dependent?
stage 6-9
what are cyclical events in the ovary coordinated by?
the hypothalamus and hormones from the pituitary gland
where do the coordinating hormones of the cyclical events in the ovary come from?
the pituitary gland
what part of the pituitary do coordinating hormones of the cyclical events in the ovary come from?
anterior pituitary
what hormones are released from the anterior pituitary which control cyclical events in the ovary?
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
luteinising hormone (LH)
prolactin (PL)
what are FSH and LH formed from?
glycoproteins
what cell are FSH and LH secreted from?
gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary
what are FSH and LH known as collectively?
gonadatrophic hormones
what type of hormone is prolactin?
peptide
what cells is prolactin secreted by?
lactotrophs
what factor from the hypothalamus causes release of LH and FSH?
gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRH)
what is the effect of GnRH?
tonic or surge release of FSH or LH from the anterior pituitary
what is prolactin release controlled by?
prolactin inhibitory factor (PIF) from hypothalamus
what is prolactin inhibitory factor (PIF) made from?
dopamine
what does an increase in PIF lead to?
decrease of prolactin (PF)
how would the tonic release of GnRH be described?
pulsatile
in the follicular phase what does increase in frequency of GnRH pulses lead to?
increase of FSH and LH release
what does FSH promote?
development and differentiation of follicle
what does development and differentiation of follicle lead to the synthesis of?
increased amounts of oestrogen
how do the frequency of GnRH pulses differ in the luteal phase?
reduced frequency of GnRH pulses
what does a reduced frequency of GnRH pulses during the luteal phase lead to?
fall in FSH and LH secretion
increase in progesterone synthesis from corpus luteum
what hormone is synthesised by the corpus luteum?
progesterone
what effect does GnRH have on its own release?
negative feedback
what effect does LH and FSH have on GnRH release?
negative feedback
what effect does progesterone have on GnRH release?
negative feedback
what is the effect of inhibin on LH/FSH?
inhibition of LH/FSH
particularly FSH to allow LH surge for ovulation
what effect does progesterone have on GnRH?
negative feedback
what effect does oestrogen have on LH/FSH and GnRH?
negative feedback until just before ovulation where it switches to positive feedback in order to initiate surge release of LH
what is the effect of prolactin on PIF?
positive feedback - increased prolactin increases PIF production in order to reduce PIF levels
what external factors can influence GnRH production and so production of sex hormones?
olfactory visual auditory temperature stress
is initial follicle development at all related to hormones?
no - there is continuous follicle growth in early stages irrespective of hormones
what leads a follicle to become dominant and lead to ovulation?
slightly increased FSH binding
what does increased FSH binding to a developing follicle lead to the secretion of?
increased IGF secretion from follicle which in turn increases FSH binding
what type of feedback is there on FSH binding and IGF production in the developing follicle?
positive
what hormone is synthesised due to increased FSH binding to a developing follicle?
oestrogen
what cells of the follicle secrete oestrogen?
granulosa
what type of feedback effect is seen in granulosa cells producing oestrogen in the developing follicle?
positive
what is ovulation induced by?
LH surge
what is ovulation induced by in spontaneous ovulators?
switch from negative to positive feedback of oestrogen on GnRH leading to surge of LH
what is ovulation induced by in induced ovulators?
surge of LH triggered by mating
what is positive feedback of oestrogen on GnRH induced by?
prolonged high levels of oestrogen leading to increase in GnRH pulses
what receptors does oestrogen act via?
alpha and beta
what oestrogen receptors are found in GnRH neurones within the hypothalamus?
beta
what is the role of beta oestrogen receptors on GnRH neurones?
mediate negative feedback of oestrogen on tonic GnRH release
what receptors does positive feedback of oestrogen on GnRH occur via?
alpha
are there alpha oestrogen receptors on GnRH neurones?
no - work through intermediate neurones
what neurones may be involved in inducing LH surge due alpha oestrogen receptors?
Kisspeptin - synapse onto GnRH neurones in hypothalamus
what does increased frequency of GnRH pulses lead to?
surge release of LH
what is the role of PGF 2a?
causes degeneration of the corpus luteum at the end of the luteal phase
what does polyoestrus mean?
continually cycles until pregnancy
what does seasonally monooestrus mean?
one cycle per season
what doe seasonally polyoestrus mean?
series of cycles in a certain season
what type of cycle do humans have?
polyoestrus
what causes menses?
support for endometrial lining is lost as progesterone level reduces so it is shed
what happens during the follicular phase?
endometrium lining grows and develops
follicle develops
what happens during the luteal phase?
endometrium lining grows and develops and is maintained by progesterone
corpus luteum releases progesterone
what changes during the oestrus cycle?
biosynthetic activities of follicles and corpus luteum
what is the hypothesis for the mechanism for switch from oestrogen to progesterone synthesis?
two cell hypothesis
what are theca cells?
those which surround the follicle
what are granulosa cells?
those which surround oocyte
in what 3 ways do theca and granulosa cells differ?
hormone receptors
steroidogenic (those which are involved in producing hormones) enzyme activity
micro-environment (e.g. blood supply)
what does prolactin influence?
switch of follicle to corpus luteum and so production of progesterone
how does the micro-environment of granulosa cells influence the hormones they can produce?
no blood supply so cholesterol is reduced - difficult to synthesise any hormones
what happens during ovulation?
oocyte is shed from primary follicle and meiosis is resumed
what is ovulation triggered by?
LH surge
what are the 2 types of ovulation?
spontaneous and induced
what does the primary oocyte become after ovulation?
secondary oocyte
what happens to the secondary oocyte after ovulation?
enters oviduct
what surrounds the secondary oocyte as it enters the oviduct?
corona radiata and cumulus oophorus
what is the movement of the secondary oocyte into the oviduct aided by?
the cilia on fimbria
what effects does LH have that lead to ovulation?
induces protease and collagenase activity in the follicle
what does increased protease and collagenase activity in the follicle lead to?
increase in follicular fluid and so thinning of granulosa cell layer
what is the role of the Stigma in ovulation?
blister which bursts and releases oocyte
what is the corona radiata formed from?
innermost granulosa cells
what makes up the cumulus oophorus?
all granulosa cells
where does the first polar body come from?
1st meiotic division of oocyte
what is the infundibulum?
open end of oviduct
what is the oviduct lined with?
cilliated and secretory epithelium
what is the movement of oocyte in the oviduct due to?
action of cilia within the ampulla and muscular contractions in the isthmus
what is the ampulla?
first section of the oviduct after the infundibulum
where is the oocyte held within the oviduct until fertilization?
ampulla/isthmus junction
what is found at the ampulla/isthmus junction which holds the oocyte until fertilisation?
physiological sphincter (no physical presence)
when is the ampulla/isthmus junction physiological sphincter closed?
when oestrogen is high
when is the ampulla/isthmus junction physiological sphincter open?
when progesterone is high
how long does the early embryo take to reach the uterus after fertilisation?
2-3 days
why is there a delay of 2-3 days between fertilization and implantation into the uterus?
to ensure that the hormone environment is correct before the embryo arrives and implants
what happens to the follicle once the oocyte has been released?
collapses and forms corpus luteum
what cells make up the corpus luteum?
granulosa cells and cells of theca interna
where do blood vessels invading the corpus luteum originate from?
theca interna
what hormone does the corpus luteum begin to synthesise?
progesterone
what happens during lutinization?
cells cease dividing and are transformed into lutein cells
what do lutein cells contain?
yellow pigment
what hormones do thecal cells produce in the corpus luteum?
progesterone and androgens
what are thecal cells?
smaller lutein cells
what is the role of progesterone released by the corpus luteum?
many roles including decrease in GnRH leading to no LH surges so no more ovulation
what do large lutein cells produce?
progesterone
in humans what else is produced by the corpus luteum?
oestrogens (particularly oestradiol 17beta)
inhibin
oxytocin
what is the role of inhibin released from the corpus luteum?
promotes progesterone synthesis and inhibits FSH/LH
what is the role of oxytocin produced by the corpus luteum?
has a role in luteolysis
what happens to teh corpus luteum if a pregnancy does not occur?
undergoes luteolysis
what does luteolysis enable?
another follicular phase to start
what is involved in luteolysis?
ischaemia, leading to progressive cell death. This leads to a fall in progesterone output
what is left of the corpus luteum after luteolysis?
whitish scar tissue remains
what is the name of the whitish scar tissue that remains after luteolysis?
corpus albicans
in non primate species what effect does hysterectomy have on the corpus luteum?
prolongs lifespan
in non primate species what effect does injection of homogenised endometrium have on the corpus luteum?
causes luteolysis
in sheep what is the effect on the corpus luteum of ligating blood vessels between the uterus and ovary?
prolongs lifespan