WEST Male Reproduction Lecture

Until what week of embryonic development do embryos carry both male and female ducts

week 7

Triggers testes development, initiating the cascade that establishes male anatomy

SRY gene on Y chromosome

What cells secrete anti-mullerian hormone to actively regress the female ducts

sertoli

What cells stabilize and promote development of the wolffian ducts into the male tract structures

leydig

failure of the wolffian duct to develop properly leads to

congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens

a common cause of obstructive azzospermia

congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens

How many feet of tubes make up the seminiferous tubules

800

the factories of the male reproductive system

seminiferous tubules

what cells form the blood testis barrier via tight junctions

sertoli

protects immunologically distinct sperm from the immune system

blood testis barrier

located between tubules in interstitial tissue, produce testosterone in response to LH stimulation

leydig cells

if the blood testis barrier is breeched, what may the patient develop that causes sperm clumping and affects fertility potential

antisperm antibodies

a network of spaces contained within the connective tissue of the mediastinum

rete tubules

ciliated structure that carry sperm from the rete tubules to the epididymis

efferent ducts

How many lobules are there per testis

250-300

Nurse cells

sertoli cells

Bind testosterone, form the blood testis barrier and secrete inhibin

sertoli cells

germ cell progression

spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatids, and spermatozoa

What cells in males produce testosterone?

leydig

major site of sperm maturation and storage

epididymis

part of epididymis where sperm acquire motility potential

capcut

part of epididymis where sperm acquire fertilizing potential

corpus

part of epididymis where sperm are stored

cauda

how much of semen is sperm

2-5%

provide fructose (energy source) and an alkaline pH to neutralize vaginal acidity. The largest contributor to ejaculate volume. No storage capacity

seminal vesicles

secretes zinc (antimicrobial) and liquefaction enzymes that break down the coagulated semen clot after ejaculation

prostate gland

produce clear pre-ejaculate fluid that lubricates the urethra and neutralizes residual urinary acidity ahead of ejaculation

bulbourethral glands

What does a low sperm volume and acidic pH mean

obstruction or absence of seminal vesicles

Failure of sperm to liquify means

prostatic enzyme deficiency

Exogenous testosterone does what

leydig cells stop producing testosterone

how many days does spermatogenesis take

64 days

male stem cels

spermatogonia

spermatogonia self-renew and generate primary spermatocytes during what

mitosis

when do primary spermatocytes become secondary form

meiosis I

when do secondary spermatocytes become haploid spermatids

meiosis II

the dramatic structural transformation of a round, haploid spermatid into a morphologically complete, motility-capable spermatozoon. No cell division occurs

spermiogenesis

golgi apparatus forms the acrosomal cap covering the top 2/3 of the nucleus, contains enzymes for egg penetration

acrosome formation

DNA is tightly compacted

nuclear condensation

cell microtubules reorganize to form the tail, providing forward motility

flagellum development

mitochondria migrate to the midpiece, providing the ATP needed for flagellar movement

mitochondrial sheath

excess cytoplasm is shed as residual bodies, streamlining the cell for motility

cytoplasm reduction

immature germ cell indicate

spermatogenic failure

WBCs in semen means

infection

spermiogeneisis is driven by

testosterone

Spermatozoa detach from sertoli cells and are released into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules

spermiation

this problem points to spermatogenesis issue, insufficient cell division or germ cells failure

low concentration

this problem points to late spermiogenesis or epididymial maturation, flagellar or mitochondrial defects

poor motility

this problem points to spermiogenesis issue, structural defects during spermatid formation

abnormal morphology

high round cells in semen means

spermatogenic arrest, requires differentiation

semen travels backwards into the bladder rather than through the urethra

retrograde ejaculation

how to collect semen from someone with retrograde ejaculation

patient takes bicarbonate to alkalinize urine, patient urinates post-ejaculation

Sperm DNA fragmentation is _____ on freshly produced sperm in the tubules

lower

biopsy of testicular tissue; tubules are mechanically minced to release trapped sperm

testicular sperm extraction

needle aspiration of the tubules

testicular sperm aspiration

microsurgical aspiration from the epididymis

microepididymial sperm aspiration

needle aspiration through scrotal skin directly into the epididymis

percutaneous sperm aspiration

the development of varicose veins within the scrotum

variocele

problem with varicose veins

impairs venous drainage which raises scrotal temp

varicose veins cause

reduced sperm production, impaired sperm morphology and motility, and elevated DNA fragmentation