Testosterone
Endocrine Functions Of Testes
Hormones Secreted By Testes
Testes secrete male sex hormones, which are collectively called the
androgens.
Androgens secreted by testes are:
1. Testosterone
2. Dihydrotestosterone
3. Androstenedione.
Among these three androgens, testosterone is secreted in large quantities.
However, dihydrotestosterone is more active.
Source of Secretion of Androgens
1. Testes
In testes, androgens are secreted by the interstitial cells of Leydig
2. Adrenal cortex
Androgens secreted by zona reticularis of adrenal cortex are testosterone,
androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone.
Adrenal androgens do not have any significant physiological actions because
of their small quantity.
Androgens (Testosterone)
Chemistry
Testosterone is a C19 steroid.
Synthesis
Androgens are steroid hormones synthesized from cholesterol.
Testosterone Secretion In Different
Periods Of Life
Testosterone secretion starts at 7th week of fetal life by fetal genital
ridge.
Fetal testes begin to secrete testosterone at about 2nd to 4th month
of fetal life.
In fetal life, testosterone secretion from testes is stimulated by human
chorionic gonadotropins, secreted by placenta.
But in childhood, practically no testosterone is
secreted approximately until 10 to 12 years of
age.
Afterwards, the testosterone secretion starts
and it increases rapidly at the onset of puberty
and lasts through most of the remaining part of
life.
The secretion starts decreasing after 40 years
and becomes almost zero by the age of 90 years
Functions of Testosterone
1. During Fetal Life
2. During Adult Life
Functions Of Testosterone In Fetal Life
1. Sex differentiation in fetus
Sex chromosomes are responsible for the determination of sex of the fetus
whereas testosterone is responsible for the sex differentiation of fetus.
Fetus has two genital ducts:
Müllerian duct, which gives rise to female accessory sex organs such as vagina,
uterus and fallopian tube
Wolffian duct, which gives rise to male accessory sex organs such as epididymis,
vas deferens and seminal vesicles
If testosterone is secreted from the genital ridge of the fetus at about
7th week of intrauterine life, the müllerian duct system disappears and
male sex organs develop from Wolffian duct.
In the absence of testosterone, Wolffian duct regresses and female sex
organs develop from müllerian duct.
2. Development Of Accessory Sex Organs And External Genitalia
Testosterone is also essential for the growth of the external genitalia male
genital organs.
3. Descent Of Testes
Testes are developed in the abdominal cavity and are later pushed down into
the scrotum through inguinal canal, just before birth
Testosterone is necessary for descent of testes.
Functions Of Testosterone In Adult Life
1. Effect On Sex Organs
Testosterone increases male genital organs.
These organs are enlarged at least 8 folds between the onset of puberty and
the age of 20 years, under the influence of testosterone.
Testosterone is also necessary for spermatogenesis.
2. Effect on secondary sexual characters
Secondary sexual characters are the physical and behavioral characteristics
that distinguish the male from female.
These characters appear at the time of puberty in humans.
Testosterone is responsible for the development of secondary sexual
characters in males
Secondary sexual characters in males:
1. Effect on muscular growth
One of the most important male sexual characters is the development of
musculature after puberty.
Muscle mass increases by about 50%, due to the anabolic effect of
testosterone on proteins.
Testosterone also decreases the breakdown of proteins.
2. Effect On Bone Growth
After puberty, testosterone increases the thickness of bones by increasing
the bone matrix and deposition of calcium.
It is because of the protein anabolic activity of testosterone.
Deposition of calcium is secondary to the increase in bone matrix.
3. Effect on shoulder and pelvic bones
Testosterone causes broadening of shoulders and it has a specific effect on
pelvis, which results in:
1. Lengthening of pelvis
2. Funnel-like shape of pelvis.
3. Narrowing of pelvic outlet.
Thus, pelvis in males is different from that of females, which is broad and
round or oval in shape.
4. Effect On Skin
Testosterone increases the thickness of skin and ruggedness of subcutaneous
tissue.
It also increases the quantity of melanin pigment, which is responsible for the
deepening of the skin color.
Testosterone enhances the secretory activity of sebaceous glands.
So, at the time of puberty, when the body is exposed to sudden increase in
testosterone secretion, the excess secretion of sebum leads to development
of acne on the face.
4. Effect On Hair Distribution
Testosterone causes male type of hair distribution on the body, i.e. hair
growth over the pubis, along linea alba up to umbilicus, on face, chest and
other parts of the body such as back and limbs.
Testosterone decreases the hair growth on the head and may cause
baldness, if there is genetic background.
5. Effect On Voice
Testosterone effect the sound by causing:
1. Hypertrophy of laryngeal muscles
2. Enlargement of larynx and lengthening
3. Thickening of vocal cords.
6. Effect On Basal Metabolic Rate
At the time of puberty and earlier part of adult life, the testosterone
increases the basal metabolic rate to about 5% to 10% by its anabolic effects
on protein metabolism.
7. Effect On Electrolyte And Water Balance
Testosterone increases the sodium reabsorption from renal tubules, along
with water reabsorption.
It leads to increase in ECF volume.
8. Effect On Blood
Testosterone has got erythropoietic action.
So, after puberty, testosterone causes mild increase in RBC count.
It also increases the blood volume by increasing the water retention and ECF
volume.
