BMS 640 -- Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology

Synopsis: An advanced treatment of the cell biology, genetics and physiology of the reproductive system.

Offered: Fall semesters in even-numbered years

Coordinator: Dr. G. Bouma

Prerequisites: BMS 501

Format: 5 credits - 5 hours of lecture per week.

Course Outline:

Differentiation of the Reproductive System, Sex Determination, and Meiosis

• Differentiation of vertebrate reproductive structures
• Plasticity, descent of scrotal testes, temperature regulation
• Sex chromosomes, X inactivation, pseudoautosomal regions
• Primary sex determining genes, AMH, 50:50 sex ratio
• Intersexes, sex reversal, testicular feminization, gonadal dysgenesis, enzyme deficiencies, primordial germ cell biology
• Meiosis

Female Reproductive System

• Sexual differentiation of brain, organizational role of hormones
• Hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis
• Ovarian structure, ovarian cellular endocrinology
• Follicular growth and atresia
• Mammalian reproductive cycles
• Follicular waves and selection of dominant follicles
• Anestrus, maternal recognition of pregnancy
• Non-mammalian vertebrate reproductive cycles
• Circadian rhythms, seasonal reproductive patterns
• Puberty and aging
• Oogenesis, oocyte structure
• Changes in follicular fluid between the LH surge and ovulation
• Ovulation, endocrine regulation of the female reproductive tract, tract fluids

Male Reproductive System

• Leydig cell function and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, puberty, seasonality, and senescence in the male
• Organization of the testis, Sertoli cell function
• Spermatogenesis, stem cell renewal, cycle of seminiferous epithelium
• Spermiogenesis, sperm structure
• Quantification of spermatogenesis, gene expression, T locus
• Epididymis, rete testis fluid
• Male accessory sex glands and organs, chemistry of male reproductive tract fluids, copulation, erection, vaginal plugs

Fertilization

• Oocyte maturation
• Capacitation and acrosome reaction, sperm penetration of the oocyte
• Oocyte activation and sperm processing, parthenogenesis
• Androgenesis, imprinting, telomeres
• The first cleavage, maternal ­» embryonic control transcription, aging of gametes

Embryonic Development, Pregnancy, Toxicology

• Cleavage and development to the gastrula, comparative morphology of embryos
• Microsurgery to embryos, sperm injection, transgenics, chimeras, cloning, totipotency, maternal inheritance, epigenetic factors
• Transuterine migration, spacing, maternal and local effects, delayed implantation, ectopic pregnancy, multiple birth, superfetation, embryonic wastage
• Secretion products of embryos, molecular aspects of development
• Implantation, immunological aspects of reproduction, zona, sperm, etc.
• Pregnancy
• Parturition
• Lactation
• Environmental reproductive toxicology -- male
• Environmental reproductive toxicology -- female

Reproductive Behavior

• Speciation, hybridization, selection for secondary sex characteristics, sexual dimorphism
• Sexual behaviors, monogamy, polygamy, polygyny, polyandry, infanticide
• Comparative primate strategies
• Pheromones, parental behavior, ringdove behavior

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