BIO 459: Study Question Set 3

Study Questions:


1) How is sex defined? Think: What are the differences
between


chromosomal sex23 distinct chromosomes. X and Y are only ones that differ b/w males and
females

The cells of a female body contain a.o. two X chromosomes (XX).
The cells of a male body one X and one Y chromosome (XY).




Gonadal sex
The female body has ovaries (female gonads or sex glands).
The male body has testicles (male gonads or sex glands).

1. Presence of SRY products results in differentiation of gonad into testis
2. Production of testosterone and MIH from testis results in male external genitalia



hormonal sex and -
The gonads produce 'female' and 'male' hormones that play an important role in the
development of the female or male body, especially before birth and during puberty, but also
later in life.



phenotypic sex? (External/Internal/CNS (behavioral)

Internal
The female body has oviducts, a uterus, a vagina etc.
The male body has sperm ducts, seminal vesicles, a prostate etc.

External
The female body has a clitoris, major (outer) lips and minor (inner) lips etc.
The male body has a penis and a scrotum





2) What are the endocrine mechanisms for sexual
differentiation of gonadal sex?

Embryo
1) The germinal ridge is a bipotential gonad located on the mesonephros
(protokidney), which becomes either an ovary or testis. 2) If the SRY gene is present and testis
determination factor (TDF) protein is expressed, the germinal ridge medulla differentiates into
a testis 3) If TDF is absent, the germinal ridge cortex develops into an ovary


Step 1:
Presence of SRY
products results in
differentiation of
gonad into testis

Step 2:
Production of
testosterone and MIH
from testis results in
male external genitalia


How about for differentiation of the urogenital system?


1) Dual primordia for the accessory sex organs are present early during ontogeny
2) The Mllerian duct system develops into the female accessory organs, which
develops into the fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix and connects the ovaries to the
outside environment
3) The Wolffian duct system develops into the seminal vesicles and vas



During the 1st trimester of gestation, the production of testosterone and a peptide hormone
called Mllerian inhibitory hormone (MIH) from the embryonic testis regulates the
development and regression of the primordia duct system

If testosterone and MIH are present (gonadal males):

Testosterone stimulates Wolffian duct development

MIH, as its name indicates, causes the regression of the Mllerian duct system

Female is the default sex, so in the absence of testosterone and MIH, Wolffian duct
development




For external genitalia?
Androgens!!

External
The female body has a clitoris, major (outer) lips and minor (inner) lips etc.

In the absence of androgens, a clitoris develops from the genital tubercle and the vaginal
labia develop from the genital folds

The male body has a penis and a scrotum
In the presence of androgens, the genital tubercle develops into a penis and the genital folds
develop into the scrotum

The primary androgen regulating this process
is 5dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

DHT is produced by the conversion of testosterone by the enzyme 5reductase, which is
locally expressed in the embryonic genital skin of both males and females


Describe what hormones are involved and what they do.

the production of testosterone and a peptide hormone called Mllerian inhibitory hormone
(MIH) from the embryonic testis regulates the development and regression of the primordia duct
system


3) What are the SRY gene and testisdetermining factor
(TDF) protein?


SRY (for sex-determining region Y) is a gene located on the short (p) arm just outside the
pseudoautosomal region. It is the master switch that triggers the events that converts the embryo
into a male. Without this gene, you get a female instead. So femaleness is the "default" program.


testis-determining factor (TDF; SRY protein) A protein that plays a crucial role in sex
determination in mammals. It is encoded by the SRY (sex reversal on Y) gene on the Y
chromosome, and switches embryonic development from the default female pathway to the male
pathway, by driving testis formation. The male developmental cascade is then consolidated by
secretion of the male sex hormone testosterone by the testes.



How do they regulate differentiation of the germinal ridge?
Are they expressed in chromosomal males or
females?


2) If the SRY gene is present and testis determination factor (TDF) protein is expressed, the
germinal ridge medulla differentiates into a testis

3) If TDF is absent, the germinal ridge cortex develops into an ovary




4) Describe how Mullerianinhibitory hormone (MIH) and
testosterone regulate sexual differentiation of the urogenital
system.

If testosterone and MIH are present (gonadal males):

Testosterone stimulates Wolffian duct development

MIH, as its name indicates, causes the regression of the Mllerian duct system

Female is the default sex, so in the absence of testosterone and MIH, Wolffian duct
development






5) What is the role of 5reductase in sexual differentiation
of the external genitalia?

External
The female body has a clitoris, major (outer) lips and minor (inner) lips etc.

In the absence of androgens, a clitoris develops from the genital tubercle and the vaginal
labia develop from the genital folds

The male body has a penis and a scrotum
In the presence of androgens, the genital tubercle develops into a penis and the genital folds
develop into the scrotum

The primary androgen regulating this process
is 5dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

DHT is produced by the conversion of testosterone by the enzyme 5reductase, which is
locally expressed in the embryonic genital skin of both males and females



Where is 5reductase expressed?


Locally expressed in the embryonic genital skin of both males and females. REMEMBER: 5-
reductase is present in the embryonic genital skin of both males and females resulting in
masculinization of the external genitalia


Which chromosomal/gonadal sex is it expressed in?





6) What hormone(s) regulate sexual differentiation of the
central nervous system (CNS)?






What is the role of the aromatase enzyme in this process?

Aromatase is an enzyme that is responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of estrogens

Aromatase is a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily (EC 1.14.14.1), whose function is to
aromatize androgens , producing estrogens. Androgens such as testosterone.



7) What is the distinction between true hermaphroditism
and pseudohermaphroditism?


Which is more common? Describe two mechanisms or
endocrine conditions that can result in
pseudohermaphroditism.




8) What are the two phases of the ovarian cycle? When does ovulation occur during the
ovarian cycle?





9) Describe the roles of estradiol, LH/FSH and progesterone in regulating the
ovarian/menstrual cycle in humans. Which hormone stimulates ovulation? Which
hormone regulates growth and maintenance of the uterus endometrium? Draw the profile
of hormonal changes that occur over the 28 day menstrual cycle in human females.







10) What are the roles of Thecal cells and Granulosa cells in the ovary in female reproductive
endocrinology? How do these cell types differ in the hormones they produce?







11) Given your knowledge of hormonal control of the ovarian cycle in humans, how does
hormonal contraception work?







12) What are two differences between the estrus cycle (most mammals) and the menstrual cycle
(primates, including humans)?






13) What is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? What are some of the symptoms? How might
treatment of PCOS vary depending on the goals of the woman patient?






14) How has human culture been hypothesized to influence female reproductive
endocrinology?






15) What type of hormone is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)? When and where is hCG
produced? What are two functions of hCG?






16) What are the roles of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells in steroidogenesis and gametogenesis in
the testis? Which cell type is stimulated by LH? Which is stimulated by FSH?





17) Briefly describe the process of spermatogenesis.





18) What is unusual about the relationship between testosterone and breeding behavior in
garter snakes? What does testosterone regulate in this species?




19) How do hormones affect behavior? Can behavior affect hormone production and
secretion?






20) What is the role of testosterone in regulating aggression/dominance in red deer? How
about in Harriss sparrows?






21) Briefly describe the organizationactivation hypothesis as a mechanism for the expression of
behavioral differences between the sexes.







22) How does intrauterine position influence behavioral development in mice? How does the
organizationactivation hypothesis help us understand this process?