You are on page 1of 37

Hormonal control of

gametogenesis &
The menstrual cycle

J. J. MARSHALL-THOMPSON
R. SCOTT
CAPE BIOLOGY UNIT 1
2ND APRIL, 2019
Objectives

▶ Explain how hormones regulate


gametogenesis
▶ Discuss the importance of hormones in the
control of the menstrual cycle
Hormonal control of
spermatogenesis

▶ Hormones help to regulate the sperm


development.
▶ The hormones include gonadotropic releasing
hormone (GnRH), gonadotropic hormones (LH
and FSH) and androgen testosterone.
▶ Inhibin is also produced.
▶ The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis is
employed.
Hypothalamus: Anterior pituitary gland:
Gonadotrophin
1. Luteinising hormone
releasing
(LH) &
hormone (GnRH)
2. Follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH)

Excess testosterone
1. Leydig cells:
inhibits LH production.
testosterone
Increased activity of
2. Sertoli cells: become Sertoli cells releases
more receptive to inhibin which inhibits
testosterone secretion of FSH.
Hormonal control of
spermatogenesis
Implications

▶ ~Constant testosterone level


throughout a man’s life.
▶ Ongoing sperm production
▶ Negative Feedback system
Hormonal Control of
oogenesis
▶ Hormones help to regulate the stages in ovum
development.
▶ The hormones include gonadotropic releasing
hormone (GnRH), gonadotropic hormones (LH
and FSH) and female sex hormones oestrogen
and progesterone.
▶ Inhibin is also produced.
▶ The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis is
employed.
Some comparisons

▶ Cyclical
▶ Involves some of the same hormones
as in spermatogenesis
▶ Both positive and negative feedback
Discuss the
importance of
Menstrual
hormones in the
cycle control of the
menstrual cycle
We all go through phases

▶ Ovulation occurs ~once every 28 days


▶ If the released egg is not fertilized then it will be
expelled from the body after about 14 days
▶ The endometrial lining is also expelled.
▶ Given that the most dramatic part of the menstrual
cycle is when blood appears, we can consider that
the start.
▶ The Ovarian cycle is typically divided into 3 phases:
Follicular→ Ovulation→ Luteal
▶ The Uterine cycle can also be divided into 3 phases:
Menses→ Proliferative phase→ Secretory phase
Menses
Blood and Carnage (Day 1-7)

▶ Blood and tissues from the endometrium combine to form


the menstrual flow, lasting 4-7 days.

▶ Arteries that supply the lining of the uterus constrict and


capillaries weaken. Blood spilling from the damaged
vessels detaches layers of the lining, not all at once but in
random patches.

▶ Endometrium, mucus and blood descending from the


uterus, creates the menstruation flow.
Proliferative Phase (Day 8-14)

▶ The proliferative phase is the phase of the menstrual


cycle in humans and great apes during which
follicles in the ovary mature, ending with ovulation.

▶ The main hormone controlling this stage is


oestradiol. During the follicular phase, follicle-
stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted by the
anterior pituitary gland.
One follicle to rule them all

▶ FSH induces the proliferation of granulosa cells in the


developing follicles and the expression of luteinizing
hormone (LH) receptors on these granulosa cells.

▶ Two or three days before LH levels begin to increase,


usually by day seven of the cycle, one or occasionally
two of the recruited follicles emerges as dominant.
The Plot thickens

▶ LH and FSH inhibited causing atresia of follicles


▶ A dominant follicle is selected; high levels of
oestrogen are secreted by it

▶ Oestrogen causes thickening of endometrium

▶ Day 12: endometrium is 3-4 mm thick


▶ When oestrogen level peaks, it causes LH and FSH
secretion to spike.**
▶ Day 14: Ovulation occurs i.e. dominant follicle
releases oocyte into oviduct
Secretory phase

▶ Maximal thickening occurs at this


point.
▶ It corresponds to the Luteal phase of
the Ovarian cycle.
▶ The main hormone secreted here is
Progesterone.
▶ Progesterone is secreted by the Corpus
Luteum (formed from the remains of the
Graafian follicle following its rupture).
Menstrual cycle: summary
Class adjourned
Fertilization and
Implantation
J. J. MARSHALL-THOMPSON
CAPE BIOLOGY UNIT 1
30TH MARCH, 2017
‘Let’s get pregnant!’- your body the
traitor

▶ Cervical mucous
reduces acidity of
vagina
▶ Energy increases
▶ Higher libido
▶ Skin is clear & radiant
▶ Breast appear larger
Zooming in on the Luteal Phase

▶ Follicle’s granulosa cells become the corpus luteum,


which secretes progesterone to maintain
endometrium thickness.
▶ If the oocyte is not fertilized the corpus luteum breaks
down
▶ Secretion of oestrogen and progesterone decreases
▶ Endometrium breaks down
▶ LSH and FSH no longer inhibited so cycle begins
again.
But if fertilization and implantation
occur

▶ After implantation, human embryos produce human


chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is structurally
similar to LH and can preserve the corpus luteum.

▶ If implantation occurs, the corpus luteum will


continue to produce progesterone (and maintain
high basal body temperatures) for eight to twelve
weeks, after which the placenta takes over this
function.
Fertilization
▶ Read pages 236-237 in text.
▶ Answer the following questions:
1. Explain the physiological changes causing ejaculation
2. What are the components of semen. What role do they
play in promoting successful fertilization?
3. Describe the changes in sperm on transfer to mouth of
the cervix.
4. Outline the steps that occur from first contact of
successful sperm with the oocyte to formation of the
blastocyst
Fertilization key events

▶ Prior to fertilization, changes occur on the surface of


the sperm as they travel through the Fallopian tubes.
This is known as capacitation.
▶ Upon contact with follicle cells surrounding the
secondary oocyte, the acrosome reaction occurs.
▶ The acrosome swells and its enzymes are released.
Hyaluronidase digests hyaluronic acid between follicle
cells. Protease digests the proteins in the zona
pellucida.
▶ The two membranes (oocyte and sperm) fuse.
▶ This triggers the cortical reaction immediately.
Fertilisation key events

▶ Cortical vesicles are released by exocytosis through


the plasma membrane and makes the zona pellucida
impermeable to other sperm. It prevents polyspermy.
▶ The oocyte nucleus completes meiosis II producing a
large ovum and a smaller cell (a polar body).
▶ The ovum’s pronucleus and sperm’s pronucleus break
down and assemble together on the equatorial plate
at metaphase of the first mitosis of the diploid cell. This
is the zygote.
▶ More mitotic divisions occur until a hollow ball of cells is
formed known as the blastula.
Fertilisation and implantation
key events
▶ The blastocyst grows to form an inner cell mass
that will become the embryo then foetus.
▶ And an outer layer of cells which will form a
trophoblast which will form the placenta.
▶ ~6-9 days after ovulation, implantation occurs.
▶ The blastocyst embeds itself into the lining of the
endometrium and trophoblast cells form
projections that extend into the blood spaces
(lacunae) in the endometrium, increasing the SA
for absorption.
▶ These extensions are called trophoblastic villi.
Fertilisation and implantation
Implantation

▶ Read pages 237-238 in text.


▶ Answer the following questions:
1. Which hormone is produced immediately after
fertilization? What effect does it have?
2. How does the blastocyst get to the
endometrium
3. Explain how the blastocyst is able to implant in
the endometrium
4. Describe the formation of the placenta.
References

A level Applications Support Booklet: CIE Biology.


Cambridge University Press.
Biology for CAPE Examinations Unit 1 (Myda Ramesar,
Mary Jones and Geoff Jones) Cambridge University
Press 2011
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/10071
2121826.htm

You might also like