Topic 24- Reproduction & Development: Male Reproductive Syste

Reproductive systems:

Not essential for individual, essential for species continuation

Reproductive organ: gonad produces gametes & hormones
o Male: testes
o Female: ovary

Male Reproductive anatomy

Glands of Male repro.

1. Seminal vesicle: Highly converluted glandular tube tightly coiled. When
ejaculation, smooth muscle contract and it pours out all the seminal fluid into
ejaculatory duct
2. Prostate: Upon ejaculation, pours its content into ejaculatory duct
3. Bulbourethral gland: Pea size gland at base of penis. Function to lubricate the
urethra. In normal state, lots of acidic urine passes through. During sexual
arousal, it secrete lubricating fluid which makes it more alkaline and lubricates
the tube so that it gets ready for the seman (sperm + seminal fluid)
Pathways/ducts
i. Spermatogenesis occur in the seminiferous tubules deep in the testis
ii. Immature non-fertile sperm go to epididymus (long tightly coiled tube 6m
long) where they learn to swim.
iii. Upon sexual arousal, ejaculation from epididymus move through ductus
deferen loop over the pubic bone through inguinal canal (inguinal canal: weak
are of abdominal wall, testes went through this during embryonic development; inguinal
hernia: part of bow herniated through canal)

iv. Ductus derferen loop over superior medial aspect of ureter.

v. Ductus deferen swell up ampulla of ductus deferen
vi. 2 ductus deferen converge within the prostate gland to form ejaculatory
duct
vii. this duct is share with urethra. Prostatic urethrapass through uragenital
diaphragm at base of pelvis called membranous urethra spongy urethra

Corpus Cavernosum: erectile tissue full of vascular space

Seminal fluid

Produced by Accessory glands

Sperm doesnt have a lot of cytoplasm: just carry genetic info, they rely on
the seminal fluid to provide nutrients to survive.
Transport medium, transport sperm and nourish them supply energy for
sperm
o 10% fluid & sperm: vas deferens (within seminiferous tubules)
o 60% fluid: seminal vesicle
o 30% fluid: prostate gland
o a small amount from bulbourethral gland (lubricating) goes before
the seman comes, activated by parasympathetic NS.
The seminal fluid from seminal vesicle contains:
o Fructose: the sugar the sperm rely on for energy
o Prostateglandin: cause excitation of smooth muscle in male and
female once semen gets to female repro tract helping to propel
semen and sperm along
o Coagulating enzyme: once ejaculation occur, the semen coagulate
first, high up in the females tract and then after a few minutes it
starts to liquidfy again. The purpose of this is to hold it up in the
females repro tract to facilitate fertilization of ovum
The fluid from the Prostate gland:
o Citrate: for sperm energy
o PSA: Prostate Specific Antigen, diagnostic test for enlargement of
prostate gland that occurs in old man
o Fibrinolysin: help lyses the seminal fluid clot and liquidfy it
pH 7.5: Urethra tends to be acidic and the female repro tract is acidic so
the seminal fluid has to be slightly alkaline to counteract that
2~5mL semen. 100 million sperm/mL

Temperature regulation of the testes

Scrotal sac designs to support the testes outside of our body. Testes need to be 3
degrees cooler to facilitate spermatogenesis.
1. Vascular:
a. Pampiniform plexus- testicular artery branched from descending aorta
bringing the hot blood from the core to the testes. Venus blood is taken
back to core. Plexus like grape vine wrap around testicular artery covering
it. Reason it absorb the heat of testicular artery so the heat from the
core is transfer into vascular network, so blood can take that heat back to
core.
2. Muscle
a. Dartos muscle smooth muscle deep to skin attach to dermis of scrotum
i. Cold: respond as reflex to cold temperature, it contracts and
causes the skin of scrotum to wrinkle conserving the loss of heat.
ii. Heat: relax, increase SA of skin to release heat
b. Cremaster muscle skeletal muscle extend from internal oblique muscle.
i. Cold: Respond in relex fashion to cold they contract and lift the
testes up closer to core.
ii. Heat: relax allow the testes to move away from torsal

Embryonic stage (5~6weeks)

In embryo, there are two ducts; outer: Mullerian duct, inner: Wolffian duct
Male: The Presence of chromosome SRY (Sex determining Region of Y chromosome)
Wolffian duct will elaborate and develop testes and ducts and start producing
testosterone. Mullerian duct will degenerate. Once testes start to form, they start
pumping out testosterone drive the elaboration of male repro system and
mature the testes.
Female: The absence of SRY wolffian duct will degenerate, mullerian duct will
elaborate to produce ovary and uterus.
Male fetus have testes still part of the peritoneum. Once testosterone star to be
produced, it will elaborate the scrotum (scrotal swelling become scrotal sac) Testes start
to follow the ligament called Gunbernaculum. Gunbernaculum attach to scrotal sac. It
doesnt change size/length but fetus continues to grow. because the ligament stays the
same, it pull testes down to scrotal sac till birth. With male baby born too early,
undecended testes can be seen. Journey over pubic bone through inguinal canal. It will
close over leaving part of peritoneum tunica vaginalis stays covering testes.
If undecended, can be dangerous, not right position for spermotogenesis affect
fertility. Called cript orcadium (sleeping fruit) not producing sperm.
The Penis
2 columns of erectile tissues (corpora carvinosa)
innermost (corpus spongiosum)
The arteries feed the erectile tissue are innervated with parasympathetic nerve fibres.
During sexual arousalparasympathetic dominate and erection
Nitric oxide is release from artery causing vasodialation cause blood to fill vascular space
in erectile tissue. The fibrous layer around the penis doesnt stretch so it keeps penis
erect. It presses on the vein and drain the penis so the erection can be sustain and once
ejaculation occur, it switch to sympathetic nervous system and blood vessel constrict
and called resolution
The testes
Testis has a fibrous layer called tunica albuginea (innermost layer) another covering
called tunica vaginalis (ourtermost later of testeis; come with it on its journey from
abdominal during embryo development)
Seminiferous tubule- convoluted in lobules 200 lobules within testes.
i. Spermatogenesis occur at seminiferous tubule,
ii. then immature sperm move to bigger space called rete testis
iii. then move to epididymus (stay for 20 days) learn to swim
a. ejaculated
b. or get absorb by phagocytosis within duct of epididymus
Epididymus: Fluid regulation, recycling damaged spermatozoa, storage, transport and
maturation of spermatozoa

Meiosis and Mitosis

Mitosis

cell replication and division where the chromosomal number remains unchanged
in the process
line up along midline and divide
2 daughter cells
daughter cells have same amount of chromosome material as parent cell

Meiosis

reduction division process

number of chromosomes are halved to 23 (n)haplo, instead of 46 (2n) diplo
4 daughter cells
only occurs in production of gametes (in testes and ovary)

Process of Spermatogenesis
a. infant: spermatogonium are cell that are present in semineferous tubules from
birth, they undergo mitosis. Dividing so there are many of them around basal
lamina
b. Puberty: Spermatogonium enter into meiosis 1. Surge of hormone, testosterone
rises, the cells near the border (called B cells) enter into meiosis
c. Once it goes through the blood- testes barrier it turns into primary spermatocyte
d. Meiosis I
e. Secondary spermatocyte
f. Meiosis II
g. Early Spermatids
Spermiogenesis
h. Late Spermatids
i. Morphological change to spermatozoa

In this process, they are moving deeper; from basal lamina adluminal
compartment
Sustentocytes support and nourish
Spermatogonium are outside of the sustentocytes but envelope by them
Tight junction forms blood-testes barrier when the cell enter meiosis during
puberty, all the antigenic protein on surface will change. To the individual, these
cell are unfamiliar so the blood/immune system recognise them as foreign. So
they have to be kept separate from the blood.

Spermiogenesis

No chromosomal change
Only morphological change
Sperm change from oval shape to spermatozoa
Head of sperm contain enzyme, it has a helmet called acrosome which prevents
the enzyme from coming out before it hits the ovum
Head: nucleus with DNA material
Midpiece: microtubules for whipping tail and a lot of mitochondria for ATP
Tail: Flagella
Released from sustentacular cell at stage 6

Interstitial cells of Leydig

Targeted by LH or ICSH (Interstitial cell stimulating hormone)
Produce testosterone
Even if sperm production is not working, the hormone can still be release
Sustentacular cells

Release ABP (Androgen binding protein)

Release inhibin
They send negative feedback to pituitary to stop release of GnRH
(ganatotropin releasing hormone)

Spermatogonia

Spermatocyte production

Hormonal control of spermatogenesis

HPG axis (Hypothalamus pituitary gonadal axis
1. Around 13y, male start producing GnRH (Gonadotropin releasing hormone)
Continues to be produce until testosterone is high enough to shut it
2. GnRH stimulate the anterior pituitary to release 2 hormones: LH & FSH
3. LH (Lutinising Hormone) stimulate the interstitial cells of Leydig and they pump
out testosteron
4. FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) binds sustentacular cell to produce ABP
(Androgen Binding Protein) this helps testosterone bind strongly to sus.cell so
concentrating testosterone in the testes
5. FSH also helps maturation of spermatozoa
Functions of Testosterone:
Androgenic effects

Maintenance of reproductive tract

Elaborate reproductive tract during puberty

Drive spermatogenesis
Secondary gender characteristic

Anabolic effeects

Metabolism: protein synthesis and muscle and bone growth

Anabolic steroids:

Mimic the effects of testosterone

Increase energy and tendency for aggression
Protein synthesis, muscle development
Long term use can lead to testicular atrophy (affecting the negative
feedback and interferes the HPG axis)
Cant separate the anabolic and androgenic effects yet

Male sexual response

Erection

parasympathetic nerve dilate the arteries of penis

secrete Ach which then release nitric oxide (NO)
NO relaxes arteries of penis and relax the smooth muscle in corpora cavernosa
nand corpus spongiosum, allowing them to become filled with blood

Ejaculation

Sympathetic nerves
Contraction of vas deferens releases sperm into ejaculatory duct while prostate &
seminal vesicles expel fluids into urethra
Sphincter at bladder tightly closed to prevent backflow of semen into bladder
Filling urethra with semen triggers nerve impulses to skeletal muscles at base of
penis
Rhythmic contractions occur at 0.8 sec intervals & increase pressure in urethra
Semen ejaculated to exterior Orgasmic phase (intense physical pleasure)

Resolution Phase

Temporary refractory period

Another erection cannot be stimulated
Genitalia returns to pre-arousal state

Semen

Clotting enzyme from seminal vesicles causes fibrinogen in seminal vesicle fluid
to coagulate
Holds seman in deeper regions of vagina
Coagulum dissolves during next 15-30 mins because of lysis by fibrinolysin
(prostatic fluid)