Introduction The birth of a healthy baby is dependent on an ordered sequence of biological events during pregnancy. Important among these are: 1. Successful implantation of the developing embryo 2. Adaptation of maternal physiology to accept and retain the embryo…
The fallopian tubes, endometrium, myometrium, and cervix function in concert to receive gametes, facilitate fertilization, support embryo growth, and ultimately orchestrate the timely expulsion of a mature fetus. The preparation of a reproductive tract conducive to pregnancy is governed by…
Introduction Not so long ago, the intricate journey of the individual gametes through maturation, merging, and then becoming a developmentally competent preimplantation embryo was a complete mystery. Now, these aspects of establishing an early pregnancy are carried out routinely in…
Introduction The ovary is a dynamic organ that undergoes some of the most dramatic changes in structure and function of any adult human tissue ( Fig. 8.1 ). Follicles at all stages of development, from tiny primordial follicles to large…
The Reproductive Axis Normal reproductive function in women involves repetitive cycles of follicle development, ovulation, and preparation of the endometrium for implantation should conception occur in that cycle. This pattern of regular ovulatory cycles is achieved through precise functional and…
Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank Dr. Martin Matzuk, Dr. Amanda Rodriguez, and Dr. Caterina Clementi for their contributions to the previous versions of this chapter. Studies in the Pangas and Monsivais laboratories have been supported by the Eunice Kennedy…
Steroid Hormone Receptors Act as Ligand-Dependent Transcription Activators or Repressors Steroid hormones are derived from the metabolic conversion of cholesterol into biologically active steroid products that bind to intracellular receptors with high specificity. The canonical mechanism of action for the…
Lipids serve as metabolic substrates, structural components of cellular membranes, and signaling molecules. This chapter reviews the diversity of lipid molecules that participate in signal transduction related to human reproduction, including the nomenclature, the general features of their synthesis and…
Introduction Prolactin (PRL) is a single chain (23 KDa) polypeptide hormone, which is secreted by anterior pituitary lactotroph cells. Several lines of evidence indicate that PRL has an essential role in reproduction and lactation. In addition, animal data have supported…
Introduction Derived from the Greek meaning of “that which generates,” the gonads are the female and male organs that produce egg and sperm, respectively. Pituitary glycoprotein hormones which bind to target receptors on granulosa and theca cells in the ovary…