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The Female Reproductive System - 1

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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Sherida Gibbs
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73 views9 pages

The Female Reproductive System - 1

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.

Uploaded by

Sherida Gibbs
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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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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