Sex and Placental Hormones

Sex and Placental Hormones: a different hormone program depending on your sex

Sex hormones are ... that do their effect on the gonads, other parts of the reproductive system and other ... tissues.

The primary reproductive organs are the gonads (... in males and ovaries in females) and the accessory reproductive organs are ... and glands. Their functions are ... and secretion of sex hormones.

In the ovaries, ... and ... are produced.
In the testes, testosterone is produced (part converted into ... ), and also small amounts of estrogens.

In both, cells surrounding germ cells secrete mainly ... (granulosa cells, Sertoli cells), and cells separated of germ cells secrete mainly ... (theca cells, Leydig cells).

Which are the main functions of gonadal hormones?

Gonadotropin Release Hormone (GnRH) initiates the cascade in the control of reproductive functions stimulating the release of ... and ... .

FSH stimulates/increases the secretion of ... , the transcription of ... (for estradiol), the ... receptor number.

LH stimulates/increases the synthesis and secretion of ... and a little estrogens, the entry of ... in mitochondria and its conversion to pregnenolone, and the concentration of ... enzymes.

There is a ... feedback in the maintenance of testes hormones levels. Anterior pituitary releases LH and FSH ... Sertoli and Leydig cells (which stimulates Sertoli as well) and, inhibitin and testosterone produced, ... anterior pituitary hormone release, and hypothalamus in case of testosterone.

The ovarian follicle...
- Maintains, nourishes and ... the oocyte and ... it and the proper moment
- Provides ... support to the foetus until placenta takes the role

The oogenesis and follicular cycle is a magical process because before the childbirth, all the ... are formed and the ... is prepared 6 months after birth and arrested until ... .

Gamete formation and follicular development

The follicular phase is related to ... peak of hormones right before ... and the midluteal and luteal with a ... one.

Placenta synthesizes ... , relaxin, human ... gonadotropin, human placental ... and estrogens.

Hormonal effects on the reproductive tract due to estradiol and progesterone in...
Fallopian tubes: facilitate ... of egg and sperm.
Uterus: induces development and thickening of endometrium and secretion of substances that facilitate ... of sperm into the uterine cavity; development of endometrium, accumulates ... and decreases the secretion of mucus.
Vagina: increases number of cell ... of vaginal ... and vaginal secretions.