Endocrine 2.8

THE ENDOCRINE AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS

Sex differentiation in the foetus

All embryos start with the precursors to both female and male reproductive organs

SRY gene causes the development of testis

Cause the development of testosterone and DHT(dihydrotestosterone)

Female (NO Y)

no SRY gene causes the development of ovaries

HORMONES OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Sperm can stay in testes for weeks until they reach the vas deferens before ejaculation.

Leydig interstitial cell

Sertoli cells- inside tubules

Spermatogenesis

Primordial germ cell starts to divide to produce population of spermatogonium

2 rounds of mitotic division

genetic material is still 2 m

Produce sperm cells

HORMONES OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

follicles are the site of oogenesis

multiple follicles start expanding

Once a follicle becomes dominant it grows until ovulation, at which point the remaining follicle tissue turns into a secondary structure called the corpus luteum

Before ovulation androgen from theca cells are converted by granulsoa cells thus promoting follicle growth

corpus luteum secretes

• Oestrogen- responsible for ovule maintenance

• Progesterone- responsible for endometrium maintenance