Reproduction Physiology

Irfan Idris
Physiology Department, Medical
Faculty, UNHAS

Modified from R. Guillemin & R. Burgus (1972)

The hormones of the hypothalamus, Sci Am 227:24-33.

Modified from R. Guillemin & R. Burgus (1972)

The hormones of the hypothalamus, Sci Am 227:24-33.

 Kenneth L. Campbell, 1997. All rights reserved.

 Kenneth L. Campbell, 1997. All rights reserved.

Puberty
the onset of puberty has long been a mystery
during childhood the hypothalamus simply does
not secrete significant amounts of GnRH/LHRH
the slightest secretion of any sex steroid
hormones exerts a strong inhibitory effect on
hypothalamic secretion of GnRH/LHRH
at the time of puberty, the secretion of
hypothalamic GnRH breaks through the
childhood inhibition, and adult sexual life begins

 Experimental evidence suggests that this rise in

gonadotropin secretion is a result of two
processes:
maturational changes in the brain that result in
increased GnRH secretion by the hypothalamus
decreased sensitivity of gonadotropin secretion to the
negative feedback effects of sex steroid hormones

the sensitivity of the hypothalamus and the

pituitary to negative feedback effects decreases
at puberty, which would also help to account for
rising gonadotropin secretion at this time

 The Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules secrete

mllerian inhibition factor (MIF), a polypeptide that
causes regression of the mllerian ducts beginning at
about day 60.
The secretion of testosterone by the Leydig cells of the
testes subsequently causes growth and development of
the wolffian ducts into male accessory sex organs
Testosterone is converted by the enzyme 5-reductase
into the active hormone known as dihydrotestosterone
(DHT).
DHT is needed for the development and maintenance of
the penis, spongy urethra, scrotum, and prostate.
Evidence suggests that testosterone itself directly
stimulates the wolffian duct derivativesepididymis,
ductus deferens, ejaculatory duct, and seminal vesicles