Female Reproductive Endocrinology Quiz

The three phases of the uterine (endometrial) cycle are:

• Follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases

• Menstrual, proliferative, and secretory phases

• Primary, secondary, and Graffian phases

• Estrogen, progesterone, and inhibin phases

FSH and LH (luteinizing hormone) share which structural characteristic?

• Identical receptor binding domains

• The same α (alpha) subunit but different β (beta) subunits

• The same β (beta) subunit but different α (alpha) subunits

• Completely different molecular structures

Inhibin functions in the menstrual cycle by:

• Stimulating FSH release during the follicular phase

• Providing negative feedback to suppress FSH secretion

• Enhancing LH surge amplitude

• Promoting progesterone synthesis in theca cells

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NGSS.HS-LS1-3

Higher brain centers and stress affect the reproductive axis by:

• Directly stimulating ovarian steroid production

• Increasing sensitivity of granulosa cells to gonadotropins

• Influencing hypothalamic GnRH release

• Enhancing corpus luteum formation

The corpus albicans represents:

• The mature follicle just before ovulation

• The newly formed corpus luteum after ovulation

• The degenerating corpus luteum at the end of the luteal phase

• The antral fluid within the Graffian follicle

In female sexual differentiation, the development of the uterus and fallopian tubes occurs due to:

• Development of Müllerian ducts in the absence of testosterone

• Regression of Wolffian ducts due to estrogen

• Direct stimulation by FSH and LH

• Presence of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)

The secondary follicle is characterized by:

• Presence of a single layer of granulosa cells only

• Multi-layer granulosa cells and appearance of theca cells

• A large fluid-filled antrum

• Complete absence of the zona pellucida

FSH primarily stimulates granulosa cells to:

• Produce testosterone directly

• Synthesize progesterone from cholesterol

• Convert androgens to estrogens via aromatase

• Release inhibin during the follicular phase

According to the two-cell, two-gonadotropin theory:

• Both FSH and LH act only on granulosa cells

• Theca cells convert estrogen to testosterone

• Granulosa cells produce androgens independently

• LH stimulates theca cells to produce androgens, while FSH stimulates granulosa cells to convert androgens to estrogens

In the steroid biosynthesis pathway, the rate-limiting step is:

• Conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by P-450scc

• Conversion of testosterone to estradiol by aromatase

• Conversion of androstenedione to testosterone

• Conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone