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Reproductive Hormones Overview - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 11:41, 25 August 2011
, 11:41, 25 August 2011→Progesterone (P4)
E<sub>2</sub> is a steroid that is produced by the '''granulosa cells''' of a follicle, the placenta and the testes. In males the target tissue is the brain for maturation of the male brain during foetal development. E<sub>2</sub> in the male also inhibits long bone growth. In females the target tissues are the hypothalamus, the entire female reproductive tract and the mammary glands. The primary action of E<sub>2</sub> in males is the appropriate development of male sexual behaviours whilst in females it influences sexual behaviour, GnRH levels, the secretory activity of the reproductive tract and enhances uterine motility.
E<sub>2</sub> is a steroid that is produced by the '''granulosa cells''' of a follicle, the placenta and the testes. In males the target tissue is the brain for maturation of the male brain during foetal development. E<sub>2</sub> in the male also inhibits long bone growth. In females the target tissues are the hypothalamus, the entire female reproductive tract and the mammary glands. The primary action of E<sub>2</sub> in males is the appropriate development of male sexual behaviours whilst in females it influences sexual behaviour, GnRH levels, the secretory activity of the reproductive tract and enhances uterine motility.
===Progesterone (P<sub>4</sub>)===
===Progesterone (P<sub>4</sub>)===
Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is produced by the corpus luteum and the placenta. In males the target tissues are the accessory sex glands, the tunica dartos (scrotum), the seminiferous tubules and skeletal muscles. In females the target tissues are the uterine endometrium, the mammary gland, the myometrium and the hypothalamus. Progesterone results in increased endometrial secretions and inhibits the release of GnRH in females. It also inhibits female reproductive behaviour as well as acting to maintain a pregnancy. Progesterone has no primary action in the male.
===Testosterone (T)===
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is produced in the leydig cells within the testes and also via theca interna cells within follicles. In males the target tissue for testosterone are the anterior pituitary gland, specifically the gonadotroph cells. In females the target tissues are the brain, skeletal muscle and granulosa cells. This is because testosterone acts as a substrate for estradiol. The synthesis of testosterone rather than estradiol can lead to abnormal masculinisation in females. In males the primary action of testosterone is anabolic growth, spermatogenesis promotion and promotion of secretion from the accessory sex glands.
===Inhibin===
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