Lecture 19 Reproductive System

KK Chapter 14, H&G Chapter 16

Reproductive System Functions

1) To preserve germ cells (potential gametes).

2)
3) 4)

Gametogenesis (production of gametes).

Aid in fertilization, especially in amniotes & others with internal fertilization (accessory glands and structures). To nourish and house developing embryo in amniotes, whether they are oviparous, viviparous or ovoviviparous.

5)
6)

To act as endocrine glands. (Ovaries, testes, and placenta produce androgens and estrogens).
Aid in attracting mates.

Sex Determination in Vertebrates

Sex determination in most vertebrates is genetically determined (X and Y chromosomes in humans) but can be determined by the environment (e.g., temperature in turtles and some other reptiles). Most vertebrates are dioecious, but some are sequentially (some fish, frogs) or simultaneously (rarer, but some fish) hermaphroditic.
Male and female bluehead wrasse
http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/blogs_webcams_videos_and _more/blogs/giant_ocean_tank_blog/labels/Bahamas%20Collecting%20Ex pedition.php

Sex Determination in Vertebrates 2

Whiptail lizards (wikipedia)

A few vertebrates can reproduce through parthenogenesis, e.g., some fish and lizards. Vertebrates are, to differing degrees, sexually dimorphic.
Elephant seal (wikipedia) Anglerfish
(wikipedia)

Semelparity vs. Iteroparity

Most vertebrates are iteroparous, being able to reproduce repeatedly, often annually. A few vertebrates are semelparous, where the life cycle ends with reproduction. The most famous examples are the 5 species of Pacific Salmon (including the Sockeye). How could this evolve by natural selection?

Embryonic Origins KK 14.18, H&G 16.1

Gonads develop from the mesomeres adjacent to the embryonic mesonephros at its anterior end. The genital ridge forms on the nephric ridge. Germ cells migrate to the epithelium of the genital ridge from endoderm adjacent to the yolk.

Sexual Differentiation
The germ cells associate with the epithelium of the genital ridge, and there they multiply to create primary sex cords. Until this point, development is the same in both sexes. Indifferent If the gonad is to become a testis, then the primary sex cords develop into the seminiferous tubules that create sperm. In many mammals, a hard covering of connective tissue, the tunica albuginea, covers the testis. If the gonad is to become an ovary, then the primary sex cords degenerate and a second proliferation of the germinal epithelium creates the secondary sex cords destined to become follicles and ova.
KK14.19. H&G 16.1

Urogenital Ducts, Indifferent stage

In hagfishes, gametes are simply shed into the coelom. They escape through pores on the ventral surface of the body. The embryonic gonad develops adjacent to the embryonic mesonephros, and is linked to the cloaca via the archinephric (Wolffian) duct. A duct parallel to the archinephric duct, the paramesonephric (Mullerian) duct develops as well. KK 14.20, H&G 16.8

Urogenital Ducts, Male KK 14.20, H&G 16.8

In males, the Mllerian/paramesonephric ducts disintegrate, not producing any adult structures. The archinephric duct duct persists, and carries sperm from the testis. It is now called the deferent duct or vas deferens. In nonamniotes, it will also drain the opisthonephric kidney. The tubules of the anterior mesonephros become a sperm storage organ, the epididymis.

Urogenital Ducts, Female

In females, the Mllerian/paramesonephric ducts differentiate to produce the ovarian funnel, and oviducts (and uterus and vagina in amniotes). The archinephric (Wolffian) duct persists in nonamniotes as the opisthonephric duct, draining the kidney. In amniotes, it degenerates and disappears.

KK 14.20, H&G 16.8

Male (Mammalian) Gonads

The testes, contain the seminiferous tubules derived from the primary sex cords. Besides making sperm, testes are endocrine glands producing androgens which affect development, especially secondary sex characteristics, and behaviour.

In most mammals, testes migrate at puberty or seasonally from the coelom into the scrotum. Sperm formation requires lower temperatures. Marine
mammals? Birds? KK 14.7, H&G 16.7

Female (Mammalian) Gonads

The follicles of the ovary are derived from the secondary sex cords. Besides producing and nourishing the ova, they act as endocrine glands affecting development and behaviour. After ovulation, the follicle functions as a corpus luteum, controlling changes in the reproductive tract in preparation for fertilization. It persists as a corpus albicans.

KK 14.16, H&G 16.4

Urogenital Systems, Female Fish

KK 14.25, H&G 16.2

The kidney is an opisthonephros drained by an archinephric (opisthonephric) duct. The oviduct is derived from the Mllerian/paramesopnephric duct. In sharks giving live birth, the distal part is enlarged as a uterus.

Urogenital Systems, Male Fish

KK 14.32, H&G16.2 16.3

The kidney is an opisthonephros drained by an archinephric (opsithonephric) duct, a.k.a. deferent duct. The Mllerian/paramesopnephric duct produces no adult structure. The archinephric duct serves both kidney and testis.

Urogenital Systems, Female Tetrapods

Amphibians have opisthonephric kidneys like fish. Fertilization is usually external, so there is no uterus or vagina. Note that the right ovary is shown, but both are present.
KK 14.28, H&G 16.3

Reptiles and birds are amniotes and have metanephric kidneys drained by ureters. The archinephric duct has no sexual homologue in the adult female. The shell of the egg is produced by the uterus. Female birds have only one functional uterus; the right uterus is vestigial.

Urogenital Systems, Male Tetrapods

Amphibians have opisthonephric kidneys like fish, and the archinephric duct also serves the testes. It may be refered to as the deferent duct.

KK 14.36, H&G 16.9

Reptiles and birds have metanephric kidneys drained by ureters. The archinephric duct carries sperm only and is called the deferent duct (vas deferens). Birds and reptiles use internal fertilization, and a penis or pair of hemipenes may be present. Usually the cloaca can be everted to some extent or other to pass sperm to the female.

Cloaca and urogenital openings in fish

In the indifferent stage, and in many adult vertebrates (e.g., shark, lungfish on the left), the cloaca is a common terminus for the excretory, digestive and reproductive systems. Many fish, including teleosts do not have a cloaca as adults, but rather all three systems open separately to the outside, as does the coelom via abdominal pores.
KK 14.47

Urogenital openings in teleosts

Teleosts do not have a cloaca, but may have 5 separate openings around the anus in females (left) and 3 in males.

KK 14.26, H&G 16.12

Mammalian Derivatives of the Cloaca

In mammals also, the digestive system separates from the cloaca, and its distal portion is called the anus rather than the cloaca. The bladder is derived from the proximal portion of the allantois. The ureters discharge into the bladder. The exit from the bladder is the urethra. In males, the archinephric (deferent) duct joins the urethra. In females, the derivatives of the paramesonephric duct, do not remain associated with the urethra.

KK 14.50, H&G 16.12

Sexually Homologous Structures

Sexually Indifferent genital ridge archinephric duct paramesonephric duct Female ovaries archinephric duct* oviduct, uterus, vagina labia Male testes deferent duct ---------scrotum

phallic organ

clitoris

penis

* not present in adult amniotes; may also be called pro-, meso- or opisthonephric duct in different contexts.