Week 6 Flashcards
What commonalities are found between both sexes?
- Formation of gametes
- Hypothalamic pituitary control of reproduction
Gametogenesis
Gametes with 23 chromosomes are produced from cells in gonads with 46 chromosomes.
What process does gametogenesis include?
Meoisis
Mitosis
DNA replicated once and cells undergo division once
Meiosis
DNA replicated once and cells undergo division twice
Where is GnRH secreted from?
Hypothalamus
How is GnRH secreted?
In pulses from neuroendocrine cells in hypothalamus. It is regulated by hormonal feedback and higher brain centers. The pulse frequency/amplitude changes during development.
Where do sperm further mature after production?
epididymis
In males, what is overlapping between the reproductive system and urinary system?
Urethra
Where are sperm produced?
Testis
Two types of cells in testis
Sertoli and Leydig cells
Sertoli cells
Also called sustentacular cells. They support sperm development.
Leydig cells
Also called interstitial cells. they secrete testosterone.
What cells create tight junctions?
Sertoli cells; they are responsible for blood-testis barrier.
Spermatogenesis
- Following mitosis, one spermatogonium stays to produce more.
- The other cell begins to undergo meiosis forming spermatocytes.
- Four speramtids produced from 1 starting cell.
- Spermatids mature into spermatozoa.
- Lose cytoplasm and gain a tail.
- 4 and 5 called spermiogenesis.
Where is the acrosome derived from?
Golgi apparatus
What does the acrosome contain?
Hyaluronidase and acrosin
What do hyaluronidase and acrosin do?
Breakdown the zona pellucida, a glycoprotein coat that covers the oocyte.
Parts of spermatozoa
Head (contains acrosome, nucleus and centrioles), Mid pice (Mitochondrial spiral), Tail - also called flagellum (Microtubules)
What are the secretions of accesory glands in sperm?
Water, Mucuos, buffer (to neutralize urine), Nutrients, Enzymes, Zinc, Prostoglandins(Smooth muscle contration)
What is in semen
Spermatozoa (1%) and secretions of accesory glands
What nutrients are present in semen?
Fructose, Citric acid, Vitamin C, Carnitine
Exocrine glands in male reproductive system
Seminal vesicles, Prostate gland and bulbourethral gland
Role of FSH in male reproductive system
- FSH stimulates sertoli cells
- LH stimulates Leydig cells