Gonadal Sex Hormones

Understanding Coordination and Control
• Control and coordination within a body depend on the

endocrine system and the nervous system
• The endocrine system transmits chemical signals called

hormones to receptive cells throughout the body via
blood
Institute of Biology
ZBasiao
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

Stimulus
Endocrine
cell
Hormone
Signal travels
everywhere
via the
A hormone may affect one or more regions bloodstream.
throughout the body
Blood
vessel
Hormones are relatively slow acting, but

can have long-lasting effects
Response
(a) Signaling by hormones Institute of Biology
ZBasiao
Hormones
• Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete

hormones directly into surrounding fluid
• Hormones mediate responses to environmental

stimuli and regulate growth, development, and
reproduction
Campbell Biology et al 2015 ZBasiao
Local Regulators
• Local regulators are chemical signals that travel over

short distances by diffusion
• Local regulators help regulate blood pressure,

nervous system function, and reproduction
• Local regulators are divided into two types

• Paracrine signals act on cells near the secreting cell
• Autocrine signals act on the secreting cell itself
Fig. 45-2a
Blood
vessel Response
(a) Endocrine signaling
Paracrine signals act on cells near the secreting cell
Response
(b) Paracrine signaling
Autocrine signals act on the secreting cell itself
Response
(c) Autocrine signaling

Fig. 45-10
Major endocrine glands:
Hypothalamus
Pineal gland
Pituitary gland
Organs containing
Thyroid gland endocrine cells:
Parathyroid glands Thymus
Heart
Liver
Adrenal
glands Stomach
Testes Pancreas Kidney

Kidney Small
intestine
Ovaries
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Simple Hormone Pathways
• Hormones are released from an endocrine cell, travel through the
bloodstream, and interact with the receptor or a target cell to
cause a physiological response
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Negative feedback and antagonistic hormone
pairs are common features of the endocrine
system
• Hormones are assembled into regulatory pathways
ZBasiao
Campbell Biology et al 2015
Fig. 45-11
Pathway Example
–
Stimulus Low pH in
duodenum
• A negative
feedback
loop inhibits
S cells of duodenum
a response by
secrete secretin ( )
reducing the
initial Endocrine
stimulus cell
Blood
vessel
Negative
feedback
regulates many
hormonal
pathways Target Pancreas
involved in cells
homeostasis
Response Bicarbonate release Institute of Biology

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Tropic Hormones
• A tropic hormone regulates the function of

endocrine cells or glands
• The four strictly tropic hormones are
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Gonadal Sex Hormones
• The gonads, testes and ovaries, produce most of the

sex hormones: androgens, estrogens, and
progestins
• All three sex hormones are found in both males and

females, but in different amounts
• Androgens, mainly testosterone, are synthesized in
testes.
• stimulate development and maintenance of the
male reproductive system
• Testosterone causes an increase in muscle and bone

mass and is often taken as a supplement to cause
muscle growth, which carries health risks
• Estrogens, most importantly estradiol, are
responsible for maintenance of the female
reproductive system and the development of female
secondary sex characteristics
• In mammals, progestins, which include

progesterone, are primarily involved in preparing
and maintaining the uterus
• Synthesis of the sex hormones is controlled by FSH

and LH from the anterior pituitary
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Tropic and sex hormones regulates
mammalian reproduction
• Human reproduction is coordinated by hormones

from the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and
gonads
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is

secreted by the hypothalamus and directs the
release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary
• FSH and LH regulate processes in the gonads and

the production of sex hormones
ZBasiao
• The sex hormones are androgens, estrogens, and
progesterone
• Sex hormones regulate:
• The development of primary sex characteristics during

embryogenesis
• The development of secondary sex characteristics at puberty
• Sexual behavior and sex drive

Hormonal Control of the Male Reproductive
System
• FSH promotes the activity of Sertoli cells, which

nourish developing sperm and are located within
the seminiferous tubules
• LH regulates Leydig cells, which secrete testosterone

and other androgen hormones, which in turn
promote spermatogenesis
ZBasiao
Fig. 46-13
–
Hypothalamus
GnRH
– –
Anterior pituitary
Negative feedback
Negative feedback
FSH LH
Sertoli cells Leydig cells
Inhibin Spermatogenesis Testosterone
Testis
ZBasiao
• Testosterone regulates the production of GnRH, FSH,
and LH through negative feedback mechanisms
• Sertoli cells secrete the hormone inhibin, which

reduces FSH secretion from the anterior pituitary
The Reproductive Cycles of Females
• In females, the secretion of hormones and the

reproductive events they regulate are cyclic
• Prior to ovulation, the endometrium thickens with

blood vessels in preparation for embryo
implantation
• If an embryo does not implant in the endometrium,

the endometrium is shed in a process called
menstruation
ZBasiao
• Hormones closely link the two cycles of female
reproduction:
• Changes in the uterus define the menstrual cycle

(also called the uterine cycle)
• Changes in the ovaries define the ovarian cycle
Fig. 46-14 (a) Control by hypothalamus
Inhibited by combination of
estradiol and progesterone
Hypothalamus –
Stimulated by high levels
GnRH + of estradiol
1
Anterior pituitary Inhibited by low levels of estradiol

–
2 FSH LH
(b) Pituitary gonadotropins

in blood 6
LH
FSH
3 FSH and LH stimulate LH surge triggers
follicle to grow ovulation
(c) Ovarian cycle 7 8
Growing follicle Corpus Degenerating

Maturing corpus luteum
luteum
follicle
Follicular phase Ovulation Luteal phase

Estradiol secreted Progesterone and
4 by growing follicle in estradiol secreted
increasing amounts by corpus luteum
(d) Ovarian hormones in Peak causes
blood 5 LH surge
10
Estradiol Progesterone 9
Estradiol level Progesterone and estra-

very low diol promote thickening
of endometrium
(e) Uterine (menstrual) cycle
Endometrium
Menstrual flow phase Proliferative phase Secretory phase

| | | | | | | |
Days
0 5 10 14 15 20 25 28
Fig. 46-14a
(a) Control by hypothalamus Inhibited by combination of
estradiol and progesterone
Hypothalamus –
Stimulated by high levels
GnRH + of estradiol
Anterior pituitary Inhibited by low levels of

– estradiol
FSH LH
(b) Pituitary gonadotropins

in blood
LH
FSH
FSH and LH stimulate LH surge triggers
follicle to grow ovulation
(c) Ovarian cycle
Growing follicle Corpus Degenerating

Maturing luteum corpus luteum
follicle
Follicular phase Ovulation Luteal phase

Days
| | | | | | | |
0 5 10 14 15 20 25 28
Fig. 46-14b
(d) Ovarian hormones in Peak causes

blood LH surge
Estradiol Progesterone
Estradiol level Ovulation Progesterone and estra-

very low diol promote thickening
of endometrium
(e) Uterine (menstrual) cycle
Endometrium
Menstrual flow phase Proliferative phase Secretory phase

Days
| | | | | | | |
0 5 10 14 15 20 25 28
ZBasiao
The Ovarian Cycle
• The sequential release of GnRH then FSH and LH

stimulates follicle growth
• Follicle growth and an increase in the hormone

estradiol characterize the follicular phase of the
ovarian cycle
• The follicular phase ends at ovulation, and the

secondary oocyte is released
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• Following ovulation, the follicular tissue left behind
transforms into the corpus luteum; this is the luteal
phase
• The corpus luteum disintegrates, and ovarian steroid

hormones decrease
The Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle
• Hormones coordinate the uterine cycle with the

ovarian cycle
• Thickening of the endometrium during the proliferative

phase coordinates with the follicular phase
• Secretion of nutrients during the secretory phase coordinates

with the luteal phase
• Shedding of the endometrium during the menstrual flow

phase coordinates with the growth of new ovarian follicles
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• A new cycle begins if no embryo implants in the
endometrium
• Cells of the uterine lining can sometimes migrate to

an abnormal, or ectopic, location
• Swelling of these cells in response to hormone

stimulation results in a disorder called
endometriosis
Menopause
• After about 500 cycles, human females undergo

menopause, the cessation of ovulation and
menstruation
• Menopause is very unusual among animals
• Menopause might have evolved to allow a mother

to provide better care for her children and
grandchildren
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Menstrual Versus Estrous Cycles
• Menstrual cycles are characteristic of humans and
some other primates:
• The endometrium is shed from the uterus in a

bleeding called menstruation
• Sexual receptivity is not limited to a timeframe
• Estrous cycles are characteristic of most mammals:
• The endometrium is reabsorbed by the uterus

• Sexual receptivity is limited to a “heat” period
• The length and frequency of estrus cycles varies
from species to species
ZBasiao
In placental mammals, an embryo develops fully
within the mother’s uterus
• An egg develops into an embryo in a series of

predictable events
ZBasiao
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
• Majority of the slides in this power point presentation were sourced
from Campbell, N.A. et al (2015) Global Edition, Biology A Global
Approach 10th edition.
• Images, figures, and animations used in this presentation were also

sourced from different earlier editions of Campbell Biology
• “Note that the course pack provided to you in any form is intended only for your use
• in connection with the Biology 1 that you are enrolled in. It is not for distribution or sale.
• Permission should be obtained from your instructor for any use other than for what
• it is intended.”
ZBasiao

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Understanding Coordination and Control

• Control and coordination within a body depend on the

• The endocrine system transmits chemical signals called

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

Hormones are relatively slow acting, but

• Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete

• Hormones mediate responses to environmental

• Local regulators are chemical signals that travel over

• Local regulators help regulate blood pressure,

• Local regulators are divided into two types

(a) Endocrine signaling

Paracrine signals act on cells near the secreting cell

(b) Paracrine signaling

Autocrine signals act on the secreting cell itself

(c) Autocrine signaling

Testes Pancreas Kidney

• Hormones are assembled into regulatory pathways

Response Bicarbonate release Institute of Biology

• A tropic hormone regulates the function of

• The four strictly tropic hormones are

• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

• The gonads, testes and ovaries, produce most of the

• All three sex hormones are found in both males and

• Testosterone causes an increase in muscle and bone

• In mammals, progestins, which include

• Synthesis of the sex hormones is controlled by FSH

• Human reproduction is coordinated by hormones

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is

• FSH and LH regulate processes in the gonads and

• Sex hormones regulate:

• The development of primary sex characteristics during

• The development of secondary sex characteristics at puberty

• Sexual behavior and sex drive

• FSH promotes the activity of Sertoli cells, which

• LH regulates Leydig cells, which secrete testosterone

Sertoli cells Leydig cells

Inhibin Spermatogenesis Testosterone

• Sertoli cells secrete the hormone inhibin, which

• In females, the secretion of hormones and the

• Prior to ovulation, the endometrium thickens with

• If an embryo does not implant in the endometrium,

• Changes in the uterus define the menstrual cycle

• Changes in the ovaries define the ovarian cycle

Anterior pituitary Inhibited by low levels of estradiol

(b) Pituitary gonadotropins

Growing follicle Corpus Degenerating

Follicular phase Ovulation Luteal phase

Estradiol level Progesterone and estra-

(e) Uterine (menstrual) cycle

Menstrual flow phase Proliferative phase Secretory phase

Anterior pituitary Inhibited by low levels of

(b) Pituitary gonadotropins

Growing follicle Corpus Degenerating

Follicular phase Ovulation Luteal phase

(d) Ovarian hormones in Peak causes

Estradiol level Ovulation Progesterone and estra-

(e) Uterine (menstrual) cycle

Menstrual flow phase Proliferative phase Secretory phase

• The sequential release of GnRH then FSH and LH

• Follicle growth and an increase in the hormone

• The follicular phase ends at ovulation, and the

• The corpus luteum disintegrates, and ovarian steroid

• Hormones coordinate the uterine cycle with the