GUYTON 81: Reproductive and Hormonal Functions of the Male (and Function of the Pineal Gland)

Abnormal Spermatogenesis and Male Fertility

Destruction of seminiferous tubular epithelium by several diseases

Mumps orchitis
Structures in genital ducts degenerate tubular epithelia
Excessive temp of testes

Effect of Temperature on Spermatogenesis

Prevent spermatogenesis and degeneration of most cells of the seminiferous tubules

Scrotum maintains temp of the testes ~ 2oc below internal temp
Cold days scrotal reflex scrotal musculature e contract close to the body

maintain 2o deferential
Scrotum acts as cooling mechanism

Cryptorchidism

Undescended testis/es remains in abd, inguinal canal or else where

~ 3 wks to 1 mo before birth scrotum
Stimulated by endogenous testosterone secretion
Incapable of forming sperm
Temp in abd (rising even slight) tubular epithelium degenerate interstitial

structures remain
surgery is a must before adult sexual life
if testes is not able to secrete own testosterone to promote descent surgery is unlikely

MALE SEXUAL ACT

Neuronal Stimulus for Performance of the Male Sexual Act

Glans penis most impt source of sensory nerve signal that initiate male sexual act
Sexual sensation Slippery massaging action of intercourse glans penis Pudendal

nerve Sacral segment of SC Brain

o Adjacent areas:

Anal epithelium

Scrotum

Perineal structure
o Internal structures:

Urethra

Bladder

Prostrate

Seminal vesicles

Testes

Vas deferens
One of the causes of sexual drive is filling of the sexual organs with secretions
Mild infection and inflammation of these sexual organs may sometimes stimulate sexual

desire
Aphrodisiac drugs, such as cantharidin, irritate the bladder and urethral mucosa, inducing

to be successful
Effect of Sperm Count on Fertility

Semen: 3.5 mL; 120M sperm/ mL

o Variation: 35M to 200M sperm/ mL
o Average: 400 M sperm/ mL
Below infertile

inflammation and vascular congestion.

Effect of Sperm Morphology and Motility on Fertility

Infertility in Normal sperm count

o abnormal morphology
o nonmotile or relatively nonmotile

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Psychic Element of Male Sexual Stimulation

Enhance the ability of a person to perform the sexual act

thoughts or dreaming of intercourse initiate the male sexual act ejaculation
nocturnal emissions esp in teens

GUYTON 81: Reproductive and Hormonal Functions of the Male (and Function of the Pineal Gland)

can inhibit or initiate male sexual act

Dilation of large cavernous sinusoids of the erectile tissue

Integration of the Male Sexual Act in the Spinal Cord

Surrounded by strong fibrous coats

Ejaculation still possible even SC is cut in lumbar segment

male sexual act results from inherent reflex mechanisms integrated in the sacral and

pressure

lumbar spinal cord

Initiators:
o Psychic stimulation (brain)
o Sexual stimulation (sexual orgrans)
o Usually both

Ballooning of erectile tissue

Penis: hard and elongated

Erection

STAGES OF THE MALE SEXUAL ACT

Penile ErectionRole of the Parasympathetic Nerves

First effect of male sexual stimulation

Degree of erection is proportional to degree of stimulation
Parasympa sacral SC pelvic nerves penis
Parasympa NO and / or vasoactive intestinal peptides

Lubrication Is a Parasympathetic Function

Urethral glands and the bulbourethral glands mucus urethra

Aid in lubrication during coitus
Most of the lubrication of coitus is provided by the female sexual organs
Unlubricated intercourse grating, painful sensations inhibit MSA

NO

Guanosyl cyclase

cGMP

Arteriolar relaxation and SM relaxation

(corpora cavernosa & corpus spongiosum)

Emission and Ejaculation Are Functions of the Sympathetic Nerves

Culmination
Intense sexual stimulus SC reflex center sympa impulse T12-L2 hyogastric

& pelvic sympa nerve plexus genitals emission

Emission is the forerunner of ejaculation
o Contraction of vas deferens & ampulla expulsion of sperm to internal

blood flow to relaxed SM

o

Further in NO

Blood flows rapidly while venous outflow is partially occluded

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urethra
Contraction of prostate gland contraction of seminal vesicle expel

prostatic & seminal fld urethra

o Mixed w/ mucus from bulbourethral glands
Filling of internal urethra w/ semen sensory signal pudendal nerve Sacral SC
sensation of sudden fullness in internal genital organ

GUYTON 81: Reproductive and Hormonal Functions of the Male (and Function of the Pineal Gland)

Filling of internal urethra w/ semen sensory signal excite rhythmical contraction of

ischiocavernosus & bulbocavernosus compress base of penis

Both increases in pressure in both the erectile tissue of the penis and the genital ducts and
urethra, which ejaculate the semen from the urethra to the exterior Ejaculation

Rhythmical contractions of the pelvic muscles and even of some of the muscles of the
body trunk cause thrusting movements of the pelvis and penis, which also help propel the
semen into the deepest recesses of the vagina and perhaps even slightly into the cervix of
the uterus.

This entire period of emission and ejaculation Male orgasm

o

Termination: 1 to 2 misn erection ceases resolution

TESTOSTERONE AND OTHER MALE SEX HORMONES

SECRETION, METABOLISM, AND CHEMISTRY OF THE MALE SEX HORMONE
Secretion of Testosterone by the Interstitial Cells of Leydig in the Testes

Androgens: testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and androstenedione.

Secretion of Androgens Elsewhere in the Body

Androgen any hormone w/ masculinizing effects

Adrenal glands - < 5% only in male adult even in women except for growth of pubic and
axillary hair

Androgen producing cells virilism

Ovary embryonic crest cells arrhenoblastoma androgen secreting tumor

Ovary also secrete small amt of androgens but not significant

Testosterone

much more abundant

primary testicular hormone

much testosterone dihydrotestosterone

Interstitial cells of Leydig interstices between the seminiferous tubules

o

20% of mass of human adult testes

Almost nonexistent in pedia

Most numerous in newborn make for first few months and after puberty when

Chemistry of the Androgens

Steroid compounds

Can be synthesized from cholesterol or acetyl coenzyme A

there is increase testosterone production

o

Tumors increase testosterone production

Testicular germinal epithelium is destroyed by Xray or excessive heat but

Leydig cells are less easily destroyed
Metabolism of Testosterone

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3% free

GUYTON 81: Reproductive and Hormonal Functions of the Male (and Function of the Pineal Gland)

97% - bounded w/ plasma CHON

Fetal life placenta chorionic gonadotropin testes moderate testosterone

production up to 10 wks or more after birth

Loose albumin

Thight B-globulin Sex hormone binding globulin

No production up until puberty (10-13 y/o)

Circulates for 30 mins then goes tissues / degraded excreted

Increase production from stimulus from adenohypophysis at onset of puberty and last
most of the remainder of life

Testosterone tissues dihydrotestosterone esp in prostate and ext genitals

Dwindling rapidly beyond 50y/o to become 20-50 % of peak value by 80 y/o

Degradation and Excretion of Testosterone

Testosterone not fixed to tissues converted androsterone and

Functions of Testosterone During Fetal Development

dehydroepiandrosterone conjugated glucorodines (most) or sulfates Bile to GIT

Elaboration ~7th wk of embryonic life

or Kidney to Urine

male chromosome sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene testis determining factor

(SRY protein) gene activations differentiation of genital ridge cells production

Production of Estrogen in the Male

1/5 amt in the nonpregnant female

Reasonable amt is seen in urine

Key points

of testosterone ridge becomes testes

o

in female ridge differentiates to estrogen secreting cells

Development of the male body characteristics

o

penis

scrotum

1. The concentration of estrogens in the fluid of the seminiferous tubules is quite high
and probably plays an important role in spermiogenesis. This estrogen is believed

Effect of Testosterone to Cause Descent of the Testes

to be formed by the Sertoli cells by converting testosterone to estradiol.

2. Much larger amounts of estrogens are formed from testosterone and androstanediol
in other tissues of the body, especially the liver, probably accounting for as much as

testosterone

80 percent of the total male estrogen production.

pedia w/ undescended but normal tetses inject testosterone cause testes to descend
normally

FUNCTIONS OF TESTOSTERONE

Descent during last 2-3 mos of gestation when testes secrete reasonable amt of

administration of gonadotrophic hormones stimulate Leydig cells testosterone

descent of testes

General: Musculinization

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