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REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY
2. GYNE NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
a) HPO AXIS
b) STEROIDOGENESIS
c) OVARIAN CYCLE
GAMETOGENESIS
● Females have karyotype XX, and males have karyotype XY.
● So, initial germ cells that are formed in females and males are respectively XX and XY.
● These initial germ cells are called as PRIMORDIAL GERM CELLS.
● This means initial germ cells are DIPLOID (2n).
● In the adults, the germ cells are found in gonads, but embryologically the germ cells were not there in the
gonads to begin with.
● Important– Germ cells originate in the embryonic life in the “PRIMITIVE ECTODERM”.
● After that they migrate to developing yolk sac of the embryo and this is the site where they get first
identified.
● So, remember germ cells are 1st identified in the PRIMITIVE YOLK SAC which is ENDODERMAL in origin.
● They are identified in yolk sac by 3rd week of fertilization.
● After that, germ cells travel along the splanchnic mesoderm of the hindgut to reach to the Gonadal Ridge
(area where gonads are developing)
● Germ cells reach the gonadal ridge by 6 weeks of fertilization.
OOGENESIS:
● Maximum number of oogonia is present at around 20 weeks of IUL. ~ which is around 7 million in number.
● After that cycle of atresia begins, many oogonia and primary oocytes die along the way.
● By birth when a female child born, she is having only 2 million primary oocytes left.
● This process of the atresia doesn’t stop here, this continues in entire childhood and entire reproductive life of
the female also.
● So at the time of puberty, only 4 lacs primary oocytes remain.
● Among these 4 lacs, only 400 primary oocytes will ovulate in the entire reproductive life of the female.
● Remember, for every 1 egg that ovulates, 1000 die or under atresia.
GYNE NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
{HYPOTHALAMO-PITUITARY-OVARAIN AXIS (HPO AXIS)}:
GnRH:
● In the hypothalamus, neurons in the arcuate neurons secrete a neuro-hormone that is GnRH.
● GnRH is a neuro-hormone because it is released from the neurons.
● GnRH is a DECAPEPTIDE (contains 10 AA), means it is a peptide hormone and having a short structure, so it
gets very easily metabolized.
● i.e. it has VERY SHORT HALF LIFE ~ around 2-4 minutes.
● It is secreted in a PULSATILE MANNER.
● Receptors for GnRH are present on anterior pituitary.
● As long as it secreted in a pulsatile manner, it will lead to stimulation of pituitary.
● But if there is a continual secretion, it will lead to receptor desensitization.
● APPLIED: GnRH analogues produce gonadal suppression.
● MOA of GnRH analogues: these are synthetic products, so metabolize very slowly and have longer half-life and
they bind to receptors continuously. They attach to receptors present on the pituitary and remain attached
and after sometime drug-receptor complex will move inside the cell and whole complex gets metabolized. So
receptor will be gone. (Receptor desensitization.)
● GnRH analogues are the treatment modalities of all the conditions where we want gonadal suppression.
● There are 2 types of GnRH analogues – GnRH agonists and GnRH antagonists.
● Difference b/w them is agonists will lead to initial positive action k/a initial flare and after then suppress
gonads, whereas antagonists will lead to suppression only with no initial flare reaction.
● FSH and LH both hormones are glycopeptide in nature. So as compared to peptide hormones they are
metabolized slowly and have comparatively longer half-lives.
● Half-life of FSH is 3-4 HOURS.
● Half-life of LH is 20 MINUTES.
● Both FSH and LH have alpha and beta subunits (almost all hormones of anterior pituitary have these 2
subunits).
● Remember that the alpha subunit of FSH and LH are exactly similar whereas both have specific/distinct beta
subunit.
● Infact alpha unit of these are similar to TSH and HCG. So they can be used sometimes in place of these.
● Action: FSH acts on the ovaries and lead to follicle stimulation (folliculogenesis). LH also acts on the ovaries
on the developing follicles and lead to ovulation.
OVARIAN STEROIDS
STEROIDOGENESIS:
● Begins primarily with parent compound ACETATE
● Acetate forms the CHOLESTEROL.
● The main source of the cholesterol in the ovary is the BLOOD. (blood carries LDL cholesterol and this is used
by ovarian follicles to form steroid hormones)
● Cholesterol then converts into PREGNENOLONE.
● From here pathway divides into two.
CHOLESTEROL
PREGNENOLONE
ANDROSTENEDIONE TESTOSTERONE
17 BETA HSD
ESTRONE
AfraTafreeh.comESTRADIOL
(E1) (E2)
- FSH acts on the granulosa cell 🡪🡪 stimulates the enzyme aromatase 🡪🡪 it converts androgen to estrogen 🡪🡪
estrogen is released by granulosa cells.
- But from where androgen is coming in the granulosa cell ??
- Theca cells are producing androgen bcz of action of LH on theca cells . And remember theca cells are
vascularised, so they take up LDL cholesterol from the blood and synthesize the androgens from it.
- And this androgen produced here diffuses out of the theca cell and enter into the granulose cell to produce
estrogen.
● Remember:
● Initiation of folliculogenesis is done by – FSH.
● Whereas, final maturation of follicle is done by – LH.
● Resumption of the meiosis is done by – LH.
● Ovulation is done by – LH.
V.IMP:- In non-pregnant state, corpus luteum is sustained by LH. (another important function of LH even in
luteal phase)
*there has to be pharmacologically high levels for this, in normal states not cause this. Ex- Pregnancy, OCPs ,
inherited thrombophilia etc.
MENSTURAL CYCLE
● DEFINITION: Cycle of endometrium growth and regression.
● Main role of endometrium is to support growth and nourishment of early embryo.
● In the absence of pregnancy , the endometrium is shed off , this process is c/a menstruation.
● Superficial 2/3rd part of endometrium is FUNCTIONALIS LAYER – supplied by the spiral arteries.
● Deeper1/3rd part is called as BASALIS LAYER – supplied by the Basal arteries.
● This functionalis layer is being shed off during menstruation.
Blood supply of the uterus: uterine artery 🡪 arcuate artery (form arc around the uterus) 🡪 radial artery
(perpendicular to arcuate artery , penetrate the myometrium and supplies it) 🡪 basal artery & spiral artery ( supplies
endometrium deeper 1/3 and superficial 2/3 respectively) .
● IMP:- Spiral artery is an end artery. And it is responsive to hormonal changes, whereas basal artery is not an
end artery and not respond to hormones also.
● In response of hormones, spiral artery undergoes vasoconstriction and functionalis layer shed off.
● But basalis layer remain intact with intact blood supply and it is responsible for the regeneration of entire
endometrium.
● Stoppage of menses occurs bcz of
- Vasoconstriction of the spiral artery
- Clotting mechanisms
- Epithelial regeneration of endometrium.
● During 2nd half, corpus luteum is present in the ovary which secretes large amount of progesterone.
● This progesterone causes secretory changes in the endometrium.
✔ Means luteal phase of the ovary corresponds with the secretory phase of the endometrium.
● Histology
- Glands become convoluted and cork-screw shaped.
LUTEOLYSIS:- AfraTafreeh.com
● If there is no pregnancy, corpus luteum spontaneously dies k/a luteolysis.
● Life span of corpus luteum in non-pregnant state = 10 -12 days
● After death of corpus luteum, there is sudden decrease in progestrone k/a progesterone withdrawl.
● It leads to release of cytokines, prostaglandins (PGF2 alpha), MMPs(matrix metallo-proteinases).
● These above products will lead to enzymatic auto-digestion of the endometrium.
● This will lead to menses.
● During ovulation in the ovary = PGE2 🡪 it digests the surface of follicle and helps in coming out of the oocyte i.e.
ovulation.
● This PGE2 is also responsible for mid-cycle pain in some females K/a MITTLESCHERMZ.
● During menses = PGF2 alpha (this is responsible for painful periods k/a dysmenorrhea).
● PGF2 alpha came bcz of progesterone withdrawl 🡪 occurs due to luteolysis 🡪 means corpus luteum is formed in cycle
🡪 means ovulation has occurred in the cycle.
● So, ovulatory cycles are painful, whereas anovulatory cycles are painless.
FEEDBACK REGULATION:-
● In this Granulosa cells in the ovary secrete some substances which modulate/fine tune the signals coming from
the above i.e. HPO axis.
Ans – 85 days
1. Time taken for follicles to grow and mature without action of LH, FSH k/a gonadotropin independent
phase = 70 days
2. Time taken for follicles to grow and mature with action of LH, FSH k/a gonadotropin dependent phase
also k/a follicular phase of the menstrual cycle = 14-15 days.
● Cycle begins with recruitment of 70 days old primordial follicle to develop into the preovulatory follicle.
● This recruitment is done by FSH.
● FSH acts on these follicles and these starts growing further 🡪🡪🡪preovulatory follicle.
● So, there is increase in FSH levels in the early part of the cycle.
● These follicles starting synthesizing -
- ESTRADIOL (E2) [ in low amounts]
(low amounts hereby means that it is in rising phase, it doesn’t means E2 is deficient)
- INHIBIN B.
● Estradiol in low amounts and Inhibin B cause feed back inhibition of the pituitary leading to decrease in FSH
levels.
● When FSH levels start declining, support for growth of follicles is gone, so the smaller follicles begin to die.
● But among the recruited follicles, only one follicle keeps growing that has maximum FSH receptors , that is k/a
DOMINANT FOLLICLE.
● This dominant follicle starts secreting ESTRADIOL in HIGH amounts 🡪 ESTRADIOL PEAK. (E2 in high amounts
stimulate the pituitary)
● For stimulation of the pituitary, estradiol levels should beat least > 200 pg/ml for > 50 hours.
● Stimulation of pituitary releases LH k/a LH SURGE.
● LH surge leads to LH PEAK.
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● LH peak causes ovulation.
● After ovulation – the Corpus luteum secretes – progesterone (HIGH AMOUNTS), Estrogen and INHIBIN-A.
● High levels of progesterone and inhibin A inhibit the pituitary.
● FSH & LH levels both subside in the luteal phase
● Peak progesterone level is around 8 days after ovulation (DAY 22 of cycle)
● After luteolysis 🡪 progesterone and inhibin A levels decrease 🡪 feedback inhibition of the pituitary is lifted off
🡪 automatically stimulation of the pituitary occurs 🡪 release of the FSH and LH by the pituitary 🡪 cycle again
continues.
Q/A -
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✔ Maximum activity of the corpus luteum = 8 days after ovulation
✔ Peak progesterone secretion by corpus luteum = 8 days after ovulation
✔ Peak secretory changes in the endometrium = 8 days after ovulation
✔ Peak progesterone levels seen in luteal phase = 15 ng/ml.
PHYSIOLOGY OF PUBERTY
SEQUENCE IN FEMALES -
SEQUENCE IN MALES –
✔ Testicular growth
✔ Penile growth
✔ Pubarche
✔ Peak height velocity
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PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
1. CENTRAL / TRUE / GONADOTROPIN DEPENDENT = HPO axis gets activated early. Gonadotropin levels are
increased.
2. PERIPHERAL / PSEUDO / GONADOTROPIN INDEPENDENT = means estrogen that is responsible for the
pubertal changes is coming directly from the gonads, without HPO axis activity. Gonadotropin levels are low.
*Notes -
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Chapter – Reproductive Physiology P a g e 13 | 13