T2 L9: The tests and spermatogenesis Flashcards
What happens in seminiferous tubules?
Spermatogenesis but androgens are needed for this
What is testosterone synthesised from?
Acetate and cholesterol
Where and how is testosterone converted into dihydrotestosterone?
Converted by 5a-reductase in Sertoli cells
What does LH stimulate Leydig cells to do?
To secrete testosterone (androgens)
What does FSH stimulate Sertoli cells to do?
Produce sperm
How are the seminiferous tubules organised histologically?
There are peripheral myoid cells and then a basement membrane. Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells are within the tubules
What is the significance of the gap and tight junctions complexes between Sertoli cells?
It creates a basal compartment and a separate adluminal compartment
What happens in the first stage of spermatogenesis?
Mitosis to produce lots of cells
Germ cells of the prospermatognia are reactivated at puberty to undergo rounds of mitosis in the basal compartments of the tubule. This regenerating population undergoes a series of divisions to form a clone of cells. These will finally divide and form resting primary spermatocytes which inhabit cavities formed in Sertoli cell cytoplasm
What is prospermatognia?
Immature testes
Why are primary spermatocytes linked by cytoplasmic bridges?
Because although nuclear division is complete, cytoplasmic division isn’t
What happens in the seconds stage of spermatogenesis?
Meiosis to generate genetic diversity
The resting primary spermatocytes push through Sertoli cell junctions into adluminal compartments and enter meiotic prophase. The chromosomes swap DNA and then secondary spermatocytes are formed which quickly turn into haploid spermatids
What happens in the third stage of spermatogenesis?
Cell modelling to package chromosomes for delivery to the oocyte
- The acrosome forms to penetrate the ooctye
- Cap region forms for sperm-oocyte fusion
- Nucleus with packaged chromosomes forms
- Midpiece with mitochondria forms
- Tail forms for forward propulsion
Describe the spermatogenic cycle
Spermatogenesis is complete after 64 days and the process in continuous
Is spermatogenesis done in waves?
Yes. Adjacent clones of spermatogenesis are seen
What happens to sperm in the epididimus?
Fluid is absorbed and sperm in concentrated
This process is dependent on androgen stimulation
How does sperm get into the epididimus?
Spermatozoa wash into the rete through the vasa efferentia into the epididymis
Secretions from which structures make up semen?
Secretions from the:
- Seminiferous tubules
- Epididymis
At time of ejaculation:
- Prostate
- Seminal vesicles
- Bulbourethral glands
What are the cellular components of semen?
Spermatozoa
Epithelial cells from tract
Spermatogenic cells
Leucocytes
What does the endocervix offer sperm?
- It’s receptive to sperm at time of ovulation
- Protection from hostile vagina
- Supplementation of energy requirements
- Sperm selection by differential motility and morphology
- Short-term reservoir within endocervical crypts
- Initiation of the capacitation
What is Capacitation?
In the uterus, the sperm will strip off glycoproteins from the sperm surface which accumulates in the epididymis. This causes hyperactivity and makes sperm responsive to signs from the oocyte
What does a high volume of ejaculate indicate?
Abstinence or accessory gland inflammation
What is the normal volume of ejaculate?
1.5-6ml
What is the normal sperm concentration?
15million per mil
What does Normozoospermia mean?
Normal values when semen is analysed
What does Oligozoospermia mean?
Low concentration of sperm
What does Asthenozoospermia mean?
Too little motility of sperm
What does Teratozoospermia mean?
Too many abnormalities of sperm
What does Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia mean?
When the semen has a low concentration, low motility, and too many abnormalities
What does Azoospermia mean?
No spermatozoa
What does Aspermia mean?
No ejaculate