The following excerpt is from a medical textbook:

In the field of cardiovascular and renal diseases, Namsolleck and Unger discuss the use of aldosterone synthase inhibitors. They explain that the secretion of ACTH stimulates adrenal cortical growth and the release of precursors produced before the block. The most common form of deficiency is 21-Hydroxylase (CYP21B) deficiency.

Rafacho et al. explore the effects of glucocorticoid treatment on endocrine pancreas function and its implications for glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Sundahl et al. discuss the potential for selective glucocorticoid receptor modulation using non-steroidal scaffolds. Turcu and Auchus delve into adrenal steroidogenesis and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Whittier and Saag focus on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Upon completing this chapter, students should be able to answer the following questions:

1. Describe the general anatomical components of the male and female reproductive system.
2. Map out the organization of the testis, including the intralobular compartment with Sertoli cells and developing sperm cells, and the interlobular/interstitial compartment with Leydig cells and the capillary plexus.
3. Describe the processes of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis.
4. List the functions of the Sertoli cell.
5. Diagram the process of testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells, and the peripheral conversion of testosterone to estradiol or dihydrotestosterone.
6. Diagram the male hypothalamus/pituitary/testis axis, including all cell types and hormones involved.
7. Map out the organization of the ovary and describe the stages of follicular development, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation.
8. List the stages and control of female germ cell progression from oogonia to egg.
9. Map out the steroidogenic pathways in the respective cell types that lead to androgen, estrogen, and progesterone synthesis.
10. Diagram the female hypothalamus/pituitary/ovarian axis during the menstrual cycle, including all cell types and hormones involved.
11. Explain changes in the female tract during the menstrual cycle, with a focus on the uterine endometrium.
12. List the events involved in fertilization.
13. Describe the development and function of the placenta.
14. Describe the development and function of the mammary glands.

The reproductive system consists of two main components: the gonads and the reproductive tract. The gonads, which include the testes and ovaries, have both an endocrine function regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and a gametogenesis function. The reproductive tract plays a crucial role in gamete development, function, transport, and, in women, fertilization, implantation, and gestation. The normal functioning of gametogenesis in the gonads and the development and physiology of the reproductive tract depend on the endocrine function of the gonads. This hormonal dependence has significant clinical implications, including infertility due to low sex hormone production, ambiguous genitalia resulting from dysregulated hormone or receptor expression, and hormone-responsive cancers such as uterine and breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.
Namsolleck P, Unger T. Aldosterone synthase inhibitors in cardiovascular and renal diseases. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2014;29(suppl 1): i62-i68.
ACTH secretion, which stimulates adrenal cortical growth and secretion of precursors produced before the block. 21-Hydroxylase (CYP21B) deficiency is the most common form.
Rafacho A, et al. Glucocorticoid treatment and endocrine pancreas function: implications for glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance and diabetes. J Endocrinol. 2014;223:R49-R62.
Sundahl N, et al. Selective glucocorticoid receptor modulation: new directions with non-steroidal scaffolds. Pharmacol Ther. 2015;152:28-41.
Turcu AF, Auchus RJ. Adrenal steroidogenesis and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2015;44: 275-296.
Whittier X, Saag KG. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2016;42:177-189.
Upon completion of this chapter the student should be able to answer the following questions: 1.
Describe the general anatomical components of the male and female reproductive system.
2.
Map out the organization of the testis, with the Sertoli cells and developing sperm cells within the intralobular compartment, and the Leydig cells and capillary plexus within the interlobular/interstitial compartment.
3.
Describe the processes of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis.
4.
List the functions of the Sertoli cell.
5.
Diagram the process of testosterone synthesis within the Leydig cells, and the peripheral conversion of testosterone to estradiol or dihydrotestosterone.
6.
Diagram the male hypothalamus/pituitary/testis axis, including all cell types and hormones involved.
7.
Map out the organization of the ovary, and describe the various stages of follicular development, ovulation and corpus luteum formation.
8.
List the stages and control of female germ cell progression from oogonia to egg.
9.
Map out the steroidogenic pathways in the corresponding cell types that lead to androgen, estrogen and progesterone synthesis.
10.
Diagram the female hypothalamus/pituitary/ovarian axis during the menstrual cycle, including all cell types and hormones involved.
11.
Explain changes in the female tract, with emphasis on the uterine endometrium, during the menstrual cycle.
12.
List the events involved in fertilization.
13.
Describe the development and function of the placenta.
14.
Describe the development and function of the mammary glands he two most basic components of the reproductive system are the gonads and the reproductive tract. The gonads (testes and ovaries) perform an endocrine function that is regulated within a hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The gonads are distinct from other endocrine glands in that they also perform gametogenesis. The reproductive tract is involved in several aspects of gamete development, function, and transport and in women allows fertilization, implantation, and gestation. Normal gametogenesis in the gonads and development and physiology of the reproductive tract are absolutely dependent on the endocrine function of the gonads. The clinical ramifications of this hormonal dependence include infertility in the face of low sex hormone production, ambiguous genitalia in dysregulated hormone or receptor expression, and hormone-responsive cancers, especially uterine and breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.