Sex determination and reproductive systems - Reproduction 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Learning objectives:
* Understand the key processes in regulating sex determination
* Understand the anatomy and function of the male reproductive system
* Describe the roles of the sertoli and leydig cells and their hormonal control
* Have an understanding of the hormonal regulation of the male reproductive system
* Spermatogenesis vs Oogenesis

A
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2
Q

What are the 3 levels of biological differences between males and females?

A
  1. Genetic
  2. Gonadal
  3. Phenotypic
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3
Q

What is the genetic level of biological difference between males and females?
What does it drive?

A

Depends on combination of sex chromosomes at the time of conception: XX-Female and XY-Male
Genetic drives gonadal

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4
Q

What is the gonadal level of biological difference between males and females?
What does it drive?

A

Gonadal is whether the testes or varies develop
Presence/absence of Y chromosome determines gonadal differentiation
Gonadal then leaves to phenotypic difference

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5
Q

What is the genetic level of biological difference between males and females?

A

Phenotypic refers to the apparent anatomic sex of individual
Determined by gonadal sex

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6
Q

See slide 5
If an ovum with X sex chromosome is fertilised by sperm with Y sex chromosome what happens?

A
  1. X ovum fertilised with Y sperm causes an embryo with XY sex chromosome to form.
  2. Leads to male genetic sex and then sex-determining regions of the Y chromosome (SRY) codes for the production of testis-determining factor (TDF)
  3. TDF directs differentiation of gonads into testes and testes are the gonadal sex of the male
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7
Q

See slide 5
What happens when an ovum with X sex chromosome is fertilised by sperm with X sex chromosome?

A
  1. An embryo is then formed with XX sex chromosome.
  2. The genetic sex is then female.
  3. Since there is no Y chromosome there is no SRY and therefore no TDF
  4. With no TDF, the undifferentiated gonads develop into ovaries
  5. Ovaries are the gonadal sex of the female
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8
Q

Slide 6 see
1. Wolffian duct differentiate into?
2. Mullerian ducts differentiate into?

A
  1. Male reproductive tract
  2. Female reproductive tract
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9
Q

Slide 7 see diagram

Testes secrete what?

A

Testosterone and Mullerian inhibiting factor

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10
Q

Mullerian inhibiting factor causes what?

A

Degeneration of Mullerian ducts

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11
Q

Testosterone is converted to?

A

Dihydrotestosterone

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12
Q

Dihydrotestosterone promotes the development of what?

A

Promotes development of undifferentiated external genitalia along the male lines such as the penis and scrotum
Leading to phenotypic sex of the male

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13
Q

What does testosterone transform Wolffian ducts into?

A

Into male reproductive tract for example ductus, deferenes, ejaculatory duct, seminal vesicles and epidiymis, etc
The phenotypic sex of the male

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14
Q

What is released or not released in the case of the ovaries?

A

No testosterone or Mullerian-inhibiting factor is secreted

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15
Q

The absence of testosterone leads to what?

A

Degeneration of the Wolffian ducts and the development of undifferentiated external genitalia along female lines such as the labia and clitoris
Leading to the phenotypic sex of the female

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16
Q

Absence of Mullerian inhibiting factor causes the development fo what?

A

Development of Mullerian ducts into female reproductive tract such as the uterus, oviducts, etc
Leading to the phenotypic sex of the female

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17
Q

What is the anatomy of the reproductive systems?

A

Gonads, reproductive tract and accessory sex glands

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18
Q

What are the gonads?

A

Primary reproductive organs: testes and ovaries

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19
Q

What is the functions of the mature gonads?

A
  • Gametogenesis: spermatozoa; ova
  • Secreting sex hormones
    – Testosterone in males
    – Oestrogen and progesterone in females
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20
Q

Although males have more androgens and females have more oestrogens
and progesterone, are all these hormones found in both sexes?

A

Yes

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21
Q

Hypothalamic-pituitary Goanadal axis
See slide 9
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRh) is
1. Released from where?
2. Acts on what?
3. To do what?

A
  1. GnRH released from the hypothalamus
  2. Acts on the anterior pituitary gonadotrophs 3. To release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) & Luteinising hormone (LH)
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22
Q

FSH and LH act on what?
They stimulate the release of?

A

FSH & LH act on the gonads stimulating testosterone and oestrogen release

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23
Q

Feedback regulation can be +/-?

A

Either or

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24
Q

Feedback regulation by gonadal products such as steroids and peptides takes place at what level?

A

Level of both hypothalamus and pituitary

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25
Q

See slide 10 on Anterior pituitary gland
(endocrine lectures as well)

A
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26
Q

See slide 11 HPG axis has both positive+feedback mechanisms
1. A day after menstruation what secretion begins?
2. During the first 11-12 days of follicle growth, what happens to the rate of secretion of FSH and LH?
3. Why does this happen?

A
  1. FSH+LH which causes growth of the follicle
  2. They decrease slightly
  3. Due to the negative feedback effect of estrogen on the ATP
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27
Q

See slide 11 HPG axis has both positive+feedback mechanisms
1. What happens about day 12 of the monthly cycle?
2. High levels of estrogens causes what feedback?
3. This leads to?

A
  1. The high secretion of FSH & LH start to increase
  2. Due to high level of estrogens causing positive feedback
  3. Leads to pre-ovulatory LH surge & FSH
    surge
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28
Q

See slide 11 HPG axis has both positive+feedback mechanisms
1. Between ovulation and the beginning of menstruation what does the corpus luteum do?
2. What is effect of estrogen is increased when progesterone is available?
3. What effect foes this have on AP and hypothalamus and to do what?
4. Hormone inhibin is secreted by?
5. What does it inhibit the secretion of?

A
  1. Corpus luteum secretes large quantities of progesterone & estrogen & inhibin.
  2. The inhibitory effect of estrogen is
    increased when progesterone is available.
  3. This inhibitory effects more on the AP directly & to lesser extent on the hypothalamus to inhibit the secretion of GnRH. 4. The hormone inhibin secreted by the granulosa cells of the ovarian corpus luteum
  4. It inhibits the secretion of FSH & to lesser extent LH
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29
Q

See slide 12

A

Positive and negative feedback loops of the HPG axis
Demonstrate highly precise temporal control over the concentration of gonadal and steroid hormone that occurs across the menstrual cycle in women

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30
Q

What are the testes?

A

Sperm producing organs
The male gonads

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31
Q

Where are testes suspended from?

A

Outside abdominal tract (temp)

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32
Q

Accessory male reproductive sex organs?

A

Seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral
glands
Secretions conducive to sperm viability

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33
Q

Slide 14 see diagram
Explain the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis pathway involving FSH and LSH

A

Hypothalamus releases GnRh into anterior pituitary which stimulates FSH to be released which acts on Sertoli cells and releases Androgen binding protein to cause spermatogenesis

Hypothalamus releases GnRh into anterior pituitary which releases LH causing Leydig (Interstitial cells) releasing testosterone which work in conjunction with sertoli cells to cause spermatogenesis

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34
Q

Slide 15 see
FSH is necessary for initiation of?

A

Spermatogenesis

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35
Q

Testosterone acts as autocrine/paracrine?
It works with FSH to stimulate?

A

Paracrine
Spermatogenesis

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36
Q

How many compartments of the testes?

A

250-200

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37
Q

What part of testes produces sperm?

A

Seminiferous tubules

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38
Q

Leydig cells are interstitial cells which make and secrete?

A

Testosterone

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39
Q

Sertoli cells are epithelial cells that are contained within? and support the development of?

A

Contained within seminiferous tubules and support sperm development

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40
Q

What other androgens other than testosterone do Leydig cells make and secrete?

A

Androstenedione and Dehydroepiandrosterone

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41
Q

LH secretion supports what activity and through what interaction? With stimulation of what sequence?

A

LH secretion supports steroidogenic enzyme
activity in the testis through interaction with LH receptors and stimulation of the
adenylate cyclase/protein kinase sequence

42
Q

Sertoli cells - what is their association with the blood-testes barrier?

A

They make it

43
Q

Sertoli cells regulate spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis by secretion of which factors?

A

They secrete androgen-binding protein and Inhibin

44
Q

Androgen binding protein maintains what?

A

Steady concentration of androgens for sperm development

45
Q

What effect does Inhibin have on FSH?

A

Negative feedback on FSH

46
Q

Sertoli cells nurture sperm and control their development - through what kind of function is this?

A

Phagocytic function

47
Q

Sertoli cells secrete what for sperm transport?

A

Luminal fluid

48
Q

Sertoli cells act as target for what hormones?

A

FSH and testosterone

49
Q

Slide 19
Male reproductive system - what are the 3 of the sex accessory glands?

A

Bulbourethral gland, seminal vesicle and prostate gland

50
Q

Prostate gland secretes what to do what?

A

Secrete alkaline fluid to neutralise acidic vaginal secretions

51
Q

Seminal vesicle releases?

A

Fructose, PGs and clotting precursors

52
Q

Bulbourethral gland secretes?

A

Mucus for lubrication

53
Q

3 Major steps of spermatogenesis?

A
  1. Mitotic proliferation
  2. Meiosis
  3. Packaging (of cell elements, spermiogenesis)
54
Q

Spermatogenesis results in?

A

Many highly specialised mobile sperm called spermatozoa

55
Q

Undifferentiated diploid primordial germ cells
(spermatogonia) are converted into?

A

Haploid spermatozoa (sperm)

56
Q

See slide 21 - Spermatogenesis
1. Mitotic proliferation takes place where?
2. What about Meiosis?
3. And Packing (spermiogenesis)?

A
  1. Basal
  2. Adluminal
  3. Lumen
57
Q

Spermiogenesis - spermatids are transformed into?

A

Spermatazoa

58
Q

What does the head of a spermatozoa consist of?

A

Consists primarily of the nucleus (contains DNA - haploid)

59
Q

What is acrosome within spermatozoa?

A

–Enzyme-filled vesicle that caps tip of the head
–Used to penetrate ovum
–Formed by endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex before these organelles are discarded

60
Q

Midpiece is what area of spermatozoa?

A

Area where mitochondria are concentrated

61
Q

Tail of spermatozoa provides and contains?

A

Provides mobility for spermatozoon – contains contractile filaments

62
Q

Spermatozoa are released into lumen of seminiferous tubules which mature for how many days?
Can they move?

A

Spermatozoa released into lumen of seminiferous tubules are immotile
Its for 20 days

63
Q

During sperm maturation

A
64
Q

Autosomal recessive genetic syndrome what is it?

A

Impairment in expression of 5-Alpha-reductase and can lead to somebody with a XY genotype developing a sexually ambiguous set of genitalia with feminine characteristics although not completing being female due to the inability to convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone

65
Q

Slide 24 slide
Path of sperm

A
66
Q

Number and location of testis?

A

Pair located in the scrotum, a skin covered sac suspended within the angle between the legs

67
Q

Functions of testis?

A

Make sperm and secrete testosterone

68
Q

Sex steroid hormones made at the end of the HPG axis have what feedback and on what?

A

Negative feedback
On the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary

69
Q

Epididymis and Ductus Deferens number and location?

A

Pair
1 epididymis is attached to the rear or each testis
1 ductus deferens travels from each epididymus up out of the scrotal sac through the inguinal canal and empties into the urethra at the neck of the bladder

70
Q

Functions of Epididymis and Ductus D

A

Serves as the sperm’s exit route from the testis
Serves as the site for maturation of the sperm for motility and fertility
Concentrates and stores the sperm

71
Q

Paracrine signalling means?

A

Doesn’t enter vasculature, acts on receptors in nearby tissue

72
Q

Testosterone is also responsible by endocrine signalling for the maintenance of accessory reproductive organs and secondary sex characteristics - effect on?
1. Sex drive?
2. Protein synthesis in skeletal muscle?
2. Bone growth in adolescence?

A
  1. Increases
  2. Increases
  3. Increases
73
Q

Number and location of seminal vesicle?

A

Pair
Both empty into the last portion of the ductus deferens one on each side
60% volume is semen

74
Q

Functions of seminal vesicle?

A

Supply fructose to nourish the ejaculated sperm
Secrete prostaglandins that stimulate motility to help transport the sperm within the male and female
They provide the bulk of the semen and precursors for the clotting of semen

75
Q

Prostate gland - number and location?

A

Single
Completely surrounds the urethra at the neck of the bladder

76
Q

Functions of prostate gland?

A

Secrets an alkaline fluid that neutralises the acidic vaginal secretions
Triggers clotting of the semen to keep the sperm in the vagina during penis withdrawal

77
Q

Bulbourethral gland - number and location?

A

Pair
Both empty into the urethra - 1 on each side just before the urethra enters the penis

78
Q

Functions of Bulbourethral gland?

A

Secrete mucus for lubrication

79
Q

See slide 26
Events leading to erection
Either Mechanical stimulation of receptors in penis or activity in descending pathways from brain into spinal cord causes -
1. Effect on sympathetic / parasympathetic neurons to penis?
2. Nerves at sympathetic / parasympathetic?

A
  1. Decreases activity in sympathetic and increased in parasympathetic
  2. Sympathetic neurons at the lumbar pudenal nerve and Sacral cavernous nerve at parasympathetic neurons
80
Q

What is Viagra/Sildenadil?
How does it work?

A

Phosphodiesterase inhibitor blocks the degradation of cGMP
cGMP – Smooth muscle relaxation
Arterial dilation in penis
Increased blood flow to penis

81
Q

What causes ejaculation?

A

Increased sympathetic nerve activity triggers contraction of epididymis, vas deferens and ejaculatory ducts

82
Q

See slide 26
Events leading to erection
Increases parasympathetic neurons to penis causes what effect
1. On arteries to make?
2. Smooth muscle?
3. Blood flow?
4. Blood volume and blood pressure in erectile tissue causes what and how does it stop an erection?
5. What kind of feedback?

A

1 Arteries supplying blood to erectile tissues, makes NO
2. NO causes smooth muscle to relax
3. Causes increased blood flow
4. Blood volume and blood pressure in erectile tissue increases causes an erection
Causes compression of veins draining erectile tissue and decreasing the outflow of blood when stopping the erecetion
5. Positive

83
Q

Nitric oxide role in erections?

A

NO nitric oxide production by epithelial cells of blood vessels - smooth muscles of the penile arteries to relax and fill with blood,
resulting in an erection.

84
Q

Semen normal ejaculate has how much and what speed and pH?

A

Semen: normal ejaculate ~3.5mls fluid, containing 120.106 sperm/ml, @ a pH of 7.5

85
Q

Once ejaculated sperm survive @ body temp for how long?

A

24-48 hours

86
Q

What is VIP in determining fertility?

A

The number, motility and morphology of sperm

87
Q

What sperm count is indicative of infertility?

A

A sperm count < 20.106/m

88
Q

What prevents voiding of bladder and release of urine during ejaculation?

A

Closure of urethral sphincter at base of bladder

89
Q

Female reproductive is separated into internal and external parts
1. Internal is ?
2. External is ?

A
  1. Ovaries, Fallopian tubes, uterus and upper portion of vagina
  2. (Vulva) - Lower portion of vagina, labia minora and majora, clitoris, vestibular glands and mons pubis
90
Q
  1. Ovaries what is here?
  2. What happens at fallopian tubes?
  3. Uterus is for?
  4. Upper portion of vagina is for?
A
  1. Ovaries – Germ cells and hormones
  2. Fallopian tubes – Conception and zygote transport
  3. Uterus – Incubation and parturition
  4. Upper portion of vagina - (copulation and parturition)
91
Q
  1. Lower portion of vagina is for?
  2. What about the Labia minora+majora, the clitoris?
  3. What happens at vestibular glands?
  4. Function of mons pubis?
A
  1. Lower portion of vagina - copulation and parturition
  2. Labia minora and majora, clitoris -copulation
  3. Vestibular glands - secretions
  4. Mons pubis - protect pubic bone
92
Q

Reproductive system of female has cyclic changes in activity due to the?

A

Menstrual cycle

93
Q

There is restricted periods of fertility - when can it occur?

A

During ovulation

94
Q

There is a limited gamete production when is this etablished?

A

Pool established at birth

95
Q

See slide 31 diagram

A

Mitotic division then meiotic

96
Q

Primary female reproductive organs the ovaries make and secrete?

A

Make ova for oogenesis and secrete female sex hormones

97
Q

Oestrogen is essential for?
It establishes?
Role with sperm?
Contributes to?

A

» Essential for ova maturation and release
» Establishment of female secondary sexual
characteristics
» Essential for transport of sperm in oviduct
» Contributes to breast development in anticipation of lactation

98
Q

Progesterone is important in making ?
Progesterone is referred to as the what hormone?
Contributes to ability of?

A

» Important in preparing suitable environment for nourishing a developing embryo/fetus
» Pregnancy
» Contributes to ability of breasts to produce milk

99
Q

Spermatogenesis vs Oogenesis
1. Takes how long?
2. Unlimited life?
3. Primary oocyte/spermatocyte yields?
4. Spermatozoa vs ovum?

A
  1. S- Accomplished within two months and O - Take anywhere from 12 to 50 years to complete on cyclic basis from onset of puberty until menopause
  2. S - Postpubertal male can produce several hundred million sperm each day whereas O- Female born with limited, largely nonrenewable supply of germ cells
  3. S - Each primary spermatocyte yields four
    equally viable spermatozoa whereas O -Each primary oocyte yields only one cytoplasm-rich ovum and three cytoplasmpoor polar bodies that disintegrate
  4. S- Spermatozoa= motile nucleus whereas O -Ovum= immobile with complex cytoplasm
100
Q

There is identical steps of chromosome replication and division during gamete production in both sexed however what 2 key things are different?

A

Timing and end result are very different