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    The Female Reproductive System - 1

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    Sherida Gibbs
    The female reproductive system is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. During each menstrual cycle, increasing estrogen levels cause a spike in GnRH production, which signals the pituitary gland to release LH and FSH. These hormones govern the maturation of oocytes and production of sex hormones in the ovaries. As the dominant follicle develops, its estrogen output rises, providing positive feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary to trigger ovulation through an LH surge. After ovulation, the remaining follicle cells form the corpus luteum which produces progesterone.

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    The Female Reproductive System - 1

    Uploaded by

    Sherida Gibbs
    24 views9 pages
    The female reproductive system is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. During each menstrual cycle, increasing estrogen levels cause a spike in GnRH production, which signals the pituitary gland to release LH and FSH. These hormones govern the maturation of oocytes and production of sex hormones in the ovaries. As the dominant follicle develops, its estrogen output rises, providing positive feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary to trigger ovulation through an LH surge. After ovulation, the remaining follicle cells form the corpus luteum which produces progesterone.

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    The female reproductive system is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. During each menstrual cycle, increasing estrogen levels cause a spike in GnRH production, which signals the pituitary gland to release LH and FSH. These hormones govern the maturation of oocytes and production of sex hormones in the ovaries. As the dominant follicle develops, its estrogen output rises, providing positive feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary to trigger ovulation through an LH surge. After ovulation, the remaining follicle cells form the corpus luteum which produces progesterone.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    24 views9 pages

    The Female Reproductive System - 1

    Uploaded by

    Sherida Gibbs
    The female reproductive system is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. During each menstrual cycle, increasing estrogen levels cause a spike in GnRH production, which signals the pituitary gland to release LH and FSH. These hormones govern the maturation of oocytes and production of sex hormones in the ovaries. As the dominant follicle develops, its estrogen output rises, providing positive feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary to trigger ovulation through an LH surge. After ovulation, the remaining follicle cells form the corpus luteum which produces progesterone.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 9

    The Female Reproductive System - 1

    Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonad Axis
    and Follicle Maturation

    Jennifer Carbrey Ph.D.


    Department of Cell Biology
    Common Axis
    once each cycle
    an increase in
    estrogen causes an
    increase in GnRH
    production

    (and progesterone)

    In males & females, GnRH secretion is pulsatile.

    Local secretion of testosterone is needed for development of ovum (female) and of sperm (male).

    Inhibin B decreases FSH secretion. Sex hormones regulate GnRH, LH and FSH.
    image by Uwe Gille (modified), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypothalamus-Hypophysis-Testicle-Hormone-Axis_%28engl.%29.svg, Creative Commons
    Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
    The Roles of the Ovary
    Oocyte Number

    Germ cells (oocytes) are generated in


    embryogenesis (10-20 milllion per ovary at
    birth).

    400-500 oocytes actually mature to ovulation.


    Oocyte Maturation

    oocyte

    granulosa cells

    theca cells
    LH FSH

    Theca cells Granulosa cells


    Estrogen increases the number of LH receptors -positive feedback
    produce convert
    As follicle matures, the follicle produces more and more estrogen
    testosterone testosterone
    In addition, the number of LH and FSH receptors increases, making the follicle
    to estrogen
    more sensitive to their effects
    Image modified from Cambridge Natural History, Volume X, Mammalia (1902), by Frank E. Beddard, Macmillan & Co., Limited, public domain
    Ovulation

    image by Uwe Gille (modified), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypothalamus-Hypophysis-Testicle-Hormone-Axis_%28engl.%29.svg, Creative Commons


    Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
    Role of kisspeptin in LH surge

    LH mid cycle surge due to estrogen


    positive feedback to kisspeptin

    LH surge triggers ovulation.


    Phases of the Ovary

    2., 3. follicle maturation


    4. ovulation
    5. corpus luteum formation
    6. corpus luteum degeneration
    image by Shazz (modified), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Order_of_changes_in_ovary.svg , Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
    Key Concepts

    Differentiation of germ cells as well as synthesis and secretion of


    sex hormones are the common functions of the ovaries and
    testes.

    FSH and LH govern germ cell maturation and sex steroid


    hormone production in both males and females.

    As the chosen follicle matures, it produces estrogen which


    increases its own sensitivity to LH (and FSH) and reduces the
    amount of FSH released by the pituitary. The reduction in FSH
    leads to the death of less mature follicles.

    In females, a second group of kisspeptin neurons is responsible


    for the ability of estrogen to cause the LH surge.

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