Male Reproduction

(Spermatogenesis and its hormonal regulation)

ILOS of lecture:
1. Identify organs of male reproductive system
2. Function of sertoli cell
3. Spermatogenesis (steps and factors affecting)
4. Functions of testicular androgen and control of its secretion.

Fig. Male reproductive system.

- The male reproductive system is composed of the testes and the secondary sex
organs
1) The testes:
- The testes are the primary sex organs in males. Their functions are:
Spermatogenesis and secretion of male sex hormones.
2) The secondary (or accessory) sex organs:

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 These consist of the ducts that transport the sperms to the urethra and the glands
associated with them, as well as the external genitalia (the penis and the scrotum).
They include the following structures:
a) Epididymis: a single coiled tube about 6 m. long. It receives sperms from the
seminiferous tubules.
b) Vas deferens: a long duct which stores sperms in its upper enlarged end (the
ampulla) and transports sperms to the ejaculatory ducts.
c) Seminal vesicle
d) Prostate: is a large gland that surrounds the prostatic urethra.
Functional Histology of the Testis:.
The testicular parenchyma consists mainly of:
1- Seminiferous Tubules:
. These tubules contain two types of cells:
a) The gametogenic (spermatogenic) epithelium which is responsible for
spermatogenesis.
b) Sertoli cells which are large pyramidal, non motile, non-proliferating tubular
cells that lie on the basal lamina. They extend through the entire thickness of the
germinal epithelium.
Sertoli cells have the following functions:
i- They provide mechanical support for the growing gametes.
ii- They provide nutrition for the growing gametes due to their high content of
glycogen.
iii-Spermiogenesis: removal of excess cytoplasm from spermatids
iv-Spermiation: release of sperms from sertoli cells to become free in the lumen of
seminiferous tubules under the control of LH.
vii- Blood-testis barrier is a membrane formed by tight junctions between the bases of
Sertoli cells. It has two functions:
- It prevents harmful substances in the blood from entering the seminiferous
lumen.
- It keeps the germ cells in the seminiferous tubules because they are very
immunogenic when introduced into the systemic circulation.

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viii- They synthesize and secrete H-Y antigen at the 7th week of gestation under the
control of the Y chromosome. H-Y antigen binds to H-Y receptors in the primitive
gonads and induces gonadal cells to differentiate as testes.

Fig.: A, Wall of seminiferous tubule. B, stages of spermatogenesis.

2- Leydig Cells (also called interstitial cells):

They are located between seminiferous tubules and account for about 20% of
the testicular mass. They appear at 7-9th week of pregnancy. They secrete androgens in
the fetal life under the influence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) of the
placenta. They are extensive at birth, but disappear within the first 6 months of

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postnatal life. At puberty, they reappear by differentiation of fibroblast-like cells of the
testis and secrete androgens .
Spermatogensis
- Spermatogenesis occurs in all the seminiferous tubules during the active sexual life,
beginning at an average age of 13 years and continuing throughout most of the
remainder of life but decreasing markedly in old age.
Steps of spermatogenesis
There are four phases of spermatogenesis:
1- The type Aspermatogonia become enlarged, with large nucleus, granular cytopalsm
and thick cell membrane to form primary spermatocytes, which are diploid cells.
2- The primary spermatocyte undergoes reduction division (meiosis) to form two
secondary spermatocytes, each of which contains 23 chromosomes (haploid cells).
3- Each secondary spermatocyte undergoes mitotic division to form spermatids,
which are haploid cells.
4- Transformation of spermatids into spermatozoaby spermiogenesisi.e., removal of
the excess cytoplasm from spermatids by Sertoli cells.

Maturation of sperm:
- Sperms present in the lumen of seminiferous tubules are immature (nonmotile and
nonfertile). Maturation occurs in the epididymis
Storage of sperms:
- The two testes of the human adult form up to 120 million sperm/day, most of them
are stored in the vas deferens.

Factors Affecting Spermatogenesis

1- Hormonal control:
a) Hypothalamic-hypophysial-testicular axis:
- At puberty, reactivation of the hypothalamic LHRH pulse generator occurs resulting
in pulsatile secretion of pituitary gonadotropins FSH and LH

FSH has the following functions:

i- It maintains the gametogenic functions of the testes.
ii- It stimulates the growth and secretory functions of Sertoli cells.

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 LH stimulates Leydig cells to secrete testosterone which is essential for
spermatogenesis.

b) Testosterone:
It is essential for growth and division of the testicular germinal cells.

c) Other hormones
1- Growth hormone, stimulates early division of spermatogonia.
2-Thyroid hormones are essential for spermatogenesis due to their metabolic
functions.
(2) Temperature: The optimum temperature for spermatogenesis is about 35C,
which is lower than the body temperature. This low temperature is provided by the
following factors:
a- The testes are present in the secrotum outside the abdominal cavity.
b- The scrotal skin is thin, rich in sweat glands and little subcutaneous fat.
c- Counter current system ( heat exchange between spermatic arteries and veins).
d- The dartos muscle acts as a buffer. It contracts in cold weather and relaxes in
hot weather.
(3) Diet: A balanced diet containing adequate amounts of proteins and vitamins A, B,
C and E is essential for normal spermatogenesis.
a) Complete starvation inhibits spermatogenesis secondary to failure of
gonadotropin secretion.

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 b) Vitamin A deficiency causes keratinization and atrophy of spermatogenic
epithelium.
c) Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency inhibits spermatogenesis. These vitamins
are essential for nucleic acid synthesis.
d) Vitamin C deficiency depresses spermatogenesis because this vitamin is needed
for synthesis of testosterone.
e) Vitamin E deficiency causes irreversible tubular degeneration in animals.
(4) Extrinsic factors that inhibit spermatogenesis:
a- Irradiation: excessive exposure to various types of radiations destroys the
germinal epithelium.
b- Hypoxia and toxins (chemical and bacterial).
c- Certain infections e.g., mumps, destroy seminiferous tubules.
d- Excessive administration of estrogens inhibits FSH secretion and lower the
plasma testosterone level.

Testicular Androgens
- Testosterone is the major hormone produced by the Leydig cells of the testis. A
normal adult male secretes 4-9 mg of testosterone daily.

Physiologic Effects of Testosterone

A- During the Fetal Life:
1-Differentiation and development of the secondary male sex organs.
- Leydig cells of the developing testes begin to secrete testosterone at about the 7-
9th week of gestation.
2- It promotes the descent of the testes from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum
during the last 2 to 3 months of gestation.
B- After Puberty:
1- Sexual functions:
a- Growth and enlargement of the testes and the secondary sex organs.
b- Development of the male sex characters:
i- Hair, general body hair increases especially in the face, on the chest, in the
axilla and around the anus. Pubic hair is triangular in appearance with the

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 apex towards the umblicus, the hair disappears from the anterior part of the
scalp.
ii- Voice, becomes deep and low pitched
iii- Skin, is thickened with excessive secretion of sebaceous glands that may
result in acne.
iv- Body conformation, shoulders broaden and muscles enlarge.
v- Behaviour changes, increased sexual desire, and males become aggressive.
c- Spermatogenesis: testosterone is essential for growth and division of the
testicular germinal cells.
2- Metabolic effects:
a- Protein-anabolic effect which leads to:
i- Increased muscle bulk, averaging about 50% increase in muscle mass over
that in the female.
ii- Increased bone growth as a result of the protein-anabolic effect of
testosterone plus deposition of calcium salts. Testosterone also causes the
epiphyses of the long bones to unite, therefore preventing the overgrowth of
long bones.
iii- Increased thickness of the skin and vocal cords.
b- Increased basal metabolism. The usual amounts of testosterone secreted by
the testes during adolescence and early adult life increase the BMR by 5-10%.
c- Increased RBCs count. The average man has about 700.000 more red blood
cells per mm3 than the average woman. This difference may be due to the
increased metabolic rate rather than to a direct effect on red cell production.
d- Effect on water and electrolytes. Secondary to its anabolic effect, testosterone
causes moderate sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate, sulphate and water
retention. It also increases the size of the kidneys.

N.B. Human Semen

Semen is the fluid ejaculated at the time of orgasm. It contains sperms and the
secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate, Cowper’s glands, and probably, the
urethral glands.

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N.B. Male Hypogonadism
- Impaired testicular functions may be:
1) Primary hypogonadism, due to testicular disease or certain chromosomal
disorders associated with congenital absence of the testes.
2) Secondary hypogonadism, due to failure of pituitary gonadotropins secretion as in
pituitary or hypothalamic diseases.

References:
1. Costanzo, linda S. "BRS Physiology" (2020)
2. Ganong, William F."Review of medical physiology" (2020)