- 15-120 mil/ml spematozoa - 2-5ml seminal fluid - leukocytes - potentially viruses like hep B, HIV

The Reproductive System Flashcards by Sumaiya Butt

Male germ cell levels

Gametogenesis begins at puberty
Constantly fertile as spermatogonia occurs
1500 sperm made per second d

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Female gamete changes

Before birth, multiplication of oogonia to 6 mil/ovary
Form primary oocytes within ovarian follicles which begin meiosis (halted in prophase)
Some primordial follicles degenerate (atresia) leaving 2 million/ovary at birth
Due to further atresia, by puberty 0.5 mil/ovary remain

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Spermatogenesis

Spermatogonium (diploid) → Primary Spermatocyte (diploid) → Secondary Spermatocyte (haploid) → Spermatids (haploid) → Spermatozoa (haploid)

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Where does spermatogenesis occurr

Seminiferous tubules
These are made of tunica propria which are several layers of flattened cells

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Why hormones are replaced by testes

Androgens
- Testosterone
- Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
- Androstenedione
Inhibin + Activin (for FSH production regulation)
Oestrogens
Aromatherapy converts androgen too estrogen

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Sertoli cells

FSH receptors in seminiferous tubules
Makes inhibin and activin
Anti mullerian hormone which aid regression of mullerian ducts
Androgen binding proteins direct testosterone from leydig cells

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How do Sertoli cells support developing germ cells

Assist in movement of germ cells to tubular lumen

Transfer nutrients from capillaries to developing germ cells

Phagocytosis of damaged germ cells

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Leydig cells

Found between seminiferous tubules
LH receptors
Have a pale cytoplasm because it’s cholesterol rich
Releases testosterone androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone

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What makes up semen

15-120 mil/ml spematozoa
2-5ml seminal fluid
leukocytes
potentially viruses like hep B, HIV

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What path do spermatozoa take after the testis?

Into efferent ducts where tubular fluid is reabsorbed induced via estrogen
Then Exeter epididymis where nutrients and glycoproteins are this is induced by androgen

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Oogenesis

Oogonium (diploid) → Primary Oocyte (diploid) → Secondary Oocyte (haploid) → Ootids (haploid) → Ova (Ovum singular) (haploid)

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Polar bodies

Small haploid cells with virtually no cytoplasm as oocyte cytoplasm doesn’t divide evenly- they undergo apoptosi

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Describe the steps involved in folliculogenesis

1) Primordial follicle (primary oocyte at birth)

2) Primary (aka preantral) follicle → primary oocyte and layers of granulosa and outer theca cells

3) Secondary (aka antral) follicle → fluid-filled cavity (antrum) develops

4) Mature (aka Graafian/preovulatory) follicle → secondary oocyte formed

5) Ruptured follicle, ruptures surface of ovary

6) Corpus Luteum → produces progesterone and oestrogen (stimulated by LH/hCG) and in pregnancy, production of these is taken over by placenta

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When does mature follicle for

During LH surge

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What reproductive hormones are produced by the ovaries?

Oestrogens

Oestradiol

Oestrone

Oestriol

Progestogens

Progesterone

Androgens

Testosterone

Androstenedione

DHEA (not the DHEAS made in adrenals)

Relaxin

Inhibin

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Granulosa cells

Associated with inner ovarian follicles
FSH receptors
Stimulates androgen conversion into oestrogen
After ovulation turn into granulosa lutein cells which. Make progesterone and relaxin

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What does progesterone do

(-ve feedback, promote pregnancy by maintaining endometrium)

What does relaxin do

helps endometrium prepare for pregnancy and softens pelvic ligaments/cervix)

Theca cells

Outer part of ovarian follicles
LH receptors
Support folliculogenesis by structural and nutritional support

Overactivity of theca cells

Hyperadrogenism due to PCOS

What are two made gonadal hormones

Oestradiol
Testosterone

Hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis

Kisspeptin neurones release kisspeptin→ GnRH (Gonadotrophin releasing hormone) (travels down Hypophyseal-Portal Circulation to the Anterior Pituitary)→ LH/FSH (released from Gonadotrophs of anterior pituitary)→ Gonads (target glands)→ oestrogen/progesterone/androgen (target hormones)

How does hyperprolactinaemia affect the pathway

Prolactin binds to prolactin receptors on kisspeptin inhibiting it’s release
Leads to oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhea low libido infertility or osteoporosis

What kind of release does GnRH and FSH + LH have

Pulsatile release

Can GnRH be detected in blood tests?

**No**, because it is only released **locally into the hypophyseal circulation** and **not the systemic circulation** -

Capacitation of sperm

Loss of glycoprotein coat Change in surface membrane characteristics Develop whiplash movements of tails Oestrogen dependent Ca2+ dependent

Acrosome reaction

Sperm binds to ZP3 Calcium influx into sperm stimulated by progesterone Release of hyaluronidase and proteolytic enzymes Spermatazoon penetrates zona pellucida

Implantation

Attachment phase where outer trophoblast cells contact uterine surface epithelium and then decidualisation phase where changes in underlying uterine stromal tissue occur Needs progesterone domination

What promotes attachment

Leukaemia inhibitory factor from endometrial cells stimulates adhesion of blastocyst to endometrial cells Interleukin 11 is released into uterine fluid

What is the substrate for oestrogen

DHEAS made by mother and fetus

Endocrine control of lactation

Stimulation causes hypothalamus to be activated and pituitary causes neurohypophysis which releases oxytocin and adenohypophysis releases prolactin

How does deciduoaistaion change due to progesterone

**Glandular epithelial secretion** **Glycogen accumulation** in stromal cell cytoplasm **Growth of** **capillaries** increases the nutrients available to a potential implanted embryo **Increased vascular permeability** (→ oedema) to **increase nutrients and O2** going **to potential implanted embryo**

What 4 factors are involved in decidualisation phase

- IL-11 - Histamine, - Prostaglandins TGFbbeta which promotes angiogenesis

the first 40 days how is progesterone and oestrogen produced during pregnancy?

**Produced in corpus luteum** **Stimulated by hCG** (which is produced by trophoblasts) **which act on LH receptors of corpus luteum** (since hCG is similar to LH) Essential for developing fetoplacental unit **Inhibits LH and FSH** so no periods

From 40 days onwards how is progesterone and oestrogen produced

By placenta Main substrate is DHEAS made by mother and fetus

What (6) maternal hormones increase in pregnancy?

- ACTH, meaning raised urinary free cortisol (UFC) - Adrenal steroids - **Prolactin**- suppresses HPG axis - IGF-1 (Stimulated by placental GH) - Iodothyronines due to increased requirement- driven by hCG which has same alpha subunit as TSH- leads to lower TSH - PTH related peptides- produced mainly in breast tissue and can increase Ca2+ for foetal skeleton

What (3) effects does oxytocin have on pregnant women (What processes does oxytocin stimulate during parturition)?

- **Uterine contraction**- with increased numbers of oxytocin receptors in late pregnancy - **Milk ejection** - **Cervical dilation**

Name a condition related to milk production, that hyperprolactinaemia can cause?

You get excess milk production and can get galactorrhoea- leaking of milk even outside of pregnancy

Male reproductive system

Testes make sperm and testosterone Epididymis stores and matures sperm as well as absorbing fluid to concentrate sperm Seminal vesicles make seminal fluid which nourishes sperm Vas deferens transports mature sperm from epididymis to urethra during ejaculation

Female reproductive

The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. The fallopian tubes (oviducts) capture the released egg during ovulation and provide a site for fertilization to occur. Ovulation is indeed triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). If fertilization does not occur, the thickened lining of the uterus (endometrium) is shed during menstruation, along with the unfertilized egg.

Human placental lactogen

Made by placenta and modulates maternal metabolism to provide nutrients for fetus eg causes insulin resistance so more insulin is circulating for fetus