FEMALE

REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES
Dr N Mutuku
IN THIS LECTURE WE WILL LEAN
ABOUT
• Organization of the female reproductive tract

• Regulation and changes related to the ovarian cycle

• Regulation and changes related to the uterine cycle

Sample questions from last week’s lecture
• Describe the changes that occur in oogonia to transform them into
secondary oocytes (10 marks)

• Describe the changes that occur in spermatogonia to transform them

into spermatozoa (10 marks)

• State the differences between male and female gametogenesis (10

marks)

• What are the major functions of Sertoli cells? (5 marks)

The ovary,
fallopian tube,
uterus and vagina
are part of the
internal female
genitalia and are
found in the
pelvis
The female
reproductive tract
is well adapted
for gamete
transport and
maintenance of
the embryo.
Sexual maturation of young women at puberty involves the
initiation cyclical changes of ovarian and uterine morphology
and function that underlie reproductive function.
• Sexual cycles are controlled by the hypothalamus which produces
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in a cyclic fashion at the
onset of puberty

• GnRH influences cyclic pituitary gonadotropin release

• Follicle stimulating hormone
• Luteinizing hormone
FSH acting at the beginning of the ovarian cycle recruits 15-20 secondary
(preantral) follicles and sets them on the path to maturation. Only one completes the
process and the others degenerate

• Granulosa layer thickens and acquires the

membrana granulosa
• Ovarian stroma forms theca folliculi which has
inner cellular theca interna and outer cellular
theca externa
• Antrum containing liquor folliculi begins to
develop to form a tertiary follicle

• Granulosa + theca interna produce estrogens

• FSH promotes granulosa cell estrogen
production
• LH promotes theca interna cell testosterone
production
• Testosterone is converted by granulosa cell
aromatase to form estrogen
Rapid follicular growth of multiple follicles occurs under the influence of FSH and LH. About 3
reach 8mm. A dominant follicle becomes independent of FSH and produces inhibin which impairs
growth of the other enlarging follicles. Full follicular development is coincident with a surge in LH
release. At ovulation the dominant follicle is approx. 20mm in diameter.

• The LH surge
• Triggers the primary oocyte to
complete meiosis I and initiate meiosis
II
• Causes follicular rupture and ovulation
• Rapid growth due to increased
GAG+proteoglycan secretion into the
intercellular space and liquor folliculi
leads to formation of an avascular stigma
• LH increases collagenase activity
• Increases prostaglandin levels causing
contraction of ovarian wall smooth
muscle
• Promotes luteinization of the ruptured
follicle
The ovum is a large cell released from the ovary, surrounded
by the zona pellucida and corona radiata, and is transported to
the uterine fundus in the fallopian tube
• The zona pellucida is a glycoprotein
coat secreted by both the ovum and
follicular cells

• Ovum transport is facilitated by

• Fimbriae that sweep the ovum towards
the opening of the fallopian tube
• Cilia movement that establishes a fluid
stream toward the uterine cavity
• Peristaltic contractions of the fallopian
tube that establish a fluid stream
toward the uterine cavity
Following ovulation, remaining granulosa and theca interna
cells transform into lutein cells under the influence of LH and
produce progesterone (and small amounts of estrogen)
• Corpus luteum degenerates in the absence • If fertilization occurs
of fertilization to become corpus albicans
with decrease in progesterone production • Trophoblast produces human
• Granulosa cells produce inhibin that prevents chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
FSH and LH production • Human chorionic gonadotropin
sustains the corpus luteum as the
• Corpus luteal regression takes the corpus luteum of pregnancy
endometrium into the menstrual phase • Progesterone production in the
(D1-D5) corpus luteum continues to the
• Leucocytes infiltrate endometrium
4th month of development, when
• Spiral arteries regress and undergo rhythmic
spasm placenta assumes this role
• Stratum functionale+30ml blood is shed
• Stratum basale is left bare
Estrogens and progesterone mediate a variety of
effects on the structure and function of the uterus
Estrogens
• Induces the proliferative phase in the uterine endometrium
(D5-D14)
• Re-epithelialization occurs
• Endometrial stroma thickens
• Glands elongate
• Spiral arteries grow towards apical surface
• Mucous glands in the cervix produce thin mucus
• Cilia on cells in the fallopian tube proliferate
• Fimbria of the uterine tube become more motile
• Increase in estrogen production at the end of the
proliferative phase results in surge of LH
• Co-production of estrogen and progesterone at the time of
ovulation cause peristaltic movement in the uterine tube
• Promote development of secretory portions of breast tissue
Progesterone
• Progesterone and LH cause a rise in basal body temperature at
ovulation
• Progesterone induces the proliferative phase of uterine
development (D14-D28)
• Straight glands begin to coil
• Glandular cell accumulate glycogen and other secretory products
• Spiral arteries penetrate the endometrium even more
• Progesterone prompts the fallopian tube epithelium to
release more nutritive secretions for the ovum
• Induces regression of cilia in the fallopian tube later in the
proliferative phase
• Cervical mucus thickens
• Vaginal epithelium grows thinner
• Promotes further growth of breast parenchyma
• Increases water retention in breast stroma
The
endometrium
of the uterus
undergoes
cyclic
changes in
response to
the ovarian
cycle
The
endometrium
of the uterus
undergoes
cyclic
changes in
response to
the ovarian
cycle
Granulosa cells are homologous to Sertoli cells whereas
theca interna cells are homologous to Leydig cells
• LH stimulates testosterone production by Leydig cells
• Testosterone mediates secondary sex changes throughout the body
• Testosterone stimulate Sertoli cell activity

• Sertoli cells are stimulated by FSH to produce androgen binding

protein
• ABP maintains high local levels of testosterone within the seminiferous tubule
to promote spermatogenesis
• Sertoli cells also produce inhibin