Hormones are special chemical substances which play a role as messengers in plants and animals. They are secreted in the endocrine glands and they control many body functions from the complex systems all the way down to the simple tasks by arousing responses from a particular tissue or organ that is adaptive to respond to them. Such body systems include emotions or mood and reproduction (Anders et al., 2014). There are different types of hormones with various functions which come about due to various factors including gender and age. For ladies, Estrogen hormone is more common to them while for the men its testosterone. This paper mainly seeks to look into more of the reproductive systems where the hormone testosterone is the focus.
Testosterone is a primary male sex hormone produced in the testes. However the adrenal glands produce a small amount of theses hormone both in women and men. Testosterone is more produced and more useful in males than female. In women, it is produced in the ovaries but not useful in that state hence being converted into estradiol which is the female’s primary sex hormone. It is a hormone responsible for men’s muscularity; it is what turns a boy to a man. It gives a man his characteristics, for instance, voice deepening, the growth of beards, big arms, testes, and penis growth and overall secondary characteristics growth in general.
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The chemical formula for testosterone is C19H28O2 and its molecular weight is 288.431 g/mol
Three hormones are involved in the male reproductive system and they include testosterone as mentioned above, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone with each plays a significant role. The follicle-stimulating hormone excites the growth of ovarian follicles situated in the ovaries before an egg is released during ovulation by one follicle. It also plays a significant role for women during pubertal development. The luteinizing hormone, which is produced in the pituitary gland, stimulates the production of testosterone from the Leydig cells, which is also necessary for the stimulation of sperm production. Many glands involved in the production of different hormones make up the endocrine system, as in the figure below.
These include the pituitary glands, hypothalamus, pineal gland, thymus, thyroid, pancreas, testes, and ovaries. Testosterone is produced in the testicles; therefore, it is a part of the endocrine system which ensures the right reproduction state. The endocrine system is responsible for the control of the reproduction, metabolism and other targeted organ functions. The system works by secreting several hormones from their respective organs to the bloodstreams; the hormones which communicate with the body through marked cells bring about change in the cells. It is when the nervous system comes into play, making an individual respond to the event. If it was a stress condition, then the immune system is ready to work with the endocrine system.
Testosterone plays a significant role in homeostasis, which is a self-sustaining mechanism of the body to maintain a stable body condition. It is evident that older people have been found to have cardiovascular diseases and other diseases of the heart due to their low testosterone level of production. The body remains at an unstable condition leading to illness. With the right testosterone levels, one’s health status is at a balance.
The human body functions efficiently when there is a continuous interaction between cells which is enhanced by sensory receptors. They identify when something is not working as expected and takes the necessary measures to correct it hence bring stabilization to the internal body environment. It is made possible by the endocrine system which ensures the body can stay in the right conditions by making of the different hormones including the testosterone bringing about homeostasis.
Since ductless glands secrete the testosterone, these hormones are released directly into the circulatory system which is the blood ready to perform their function; this is after responding to the brain. Secretion is mainly referred to as the release of useful products or substances to a required place or destination. Ductless glands include adrenal, pancreas, pituitary, prostate, parathyroid, thyroid, thymus and gonads which are the reproductive glands, for instance, testes and ovaries. A gland is an organ that produces and releases chemical substances at a required time and is of two types including the ductless and the exocrine gland which are not considered part of the endocrine system since they secrete their products through the ducts and they do not produce hormones.
The target organ of testosterone is the male reproductive organ which is the penis and has got testosterone receptors which respond quickly to the presence of testosterone in the blood. The hormone is mainly secreted on the onset of the age of puberty but secreted in small amounts in the early stages of life. The male reproductive organ becomes fully developed as time moves and develops in full during the adult stages. Testosterone also targets bones where the bones of an adult male are denser as compared to the women and kids. Pubescent males are also targeted as it is observed that they increase their muscle mass significantly due to the high secretion rate of this hormone.
The originating gland which is the gonads (testes) is stimulated by luteinizing hormone. Regulation this testosterone starts in the hypothalamus which secretes the gonadotropin hormone that the pituitary gland to secrete two important hormones for male health: the luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. The luteinizing hormone then stimulates testosterone production. Sequentially Testosterone employs a control measure of the pituitary luteinizing hormone. Testosterone can be more converted to estradiol, but it depends on the tissues.
Testosterone is required to have an anabolic influence in the human body. Binding to an androgen receptor such as muscle tissues is necessary. By one doing some activities, the free androgen receptor sites can bind to bioavailable testosterone (Layton et al., 2014). Later on, a cascade starts in the cell which finally moves into the DNA where protein synthesis begins hence the need for proper androgen sensitivity.
The effects of testosterone which are both primary and secondary are felt precisely on an individual’s target organs. It is mainly on the development and growth of the male reproductive organs which include the prostate and testes. The increase in penis size and testes depends on the testosterone which is primary characteristics. For the development of the male secondary sexual characteristics, the same hormone is in charge including voice deepening, the growth of pubic hair, stronger arms and big chest.
Testosterone as a sex hormone plays vital roles which include the regulation of libido and sperm production. It is responsible for the normal and healthy sexual function to ensure there is a healthy reproductive life. The hormone was also used in the early ’90s as a drug despite the ignorance that was at that time. It’s now widely used as it is prescribed to men who feel that their reproductive health is not okay.
Effects of excess testosterone depend on gender and age. It is rare to find either an adult male or female who has got disorders due to excess testosterone. It is more common to identify boys or girls who have been diagnosed or observed to have the effects of excess testosterone. Some boys may grow beards when still young or when it’s very unusual of them to do so at that particular age while for the girls they may experience abnormal changes in their genitals which can result to infertility due to precocious puberty (Vigen et al., 2013). In women, high blood pressure may be the indicator that the individual could be suffering from this secretion of too much or too little of the hormone. Klinefelter syndrome and tuner syndrome can also result in the high levels of this hormone.
In the case of too little testosterone production, there could be adverse effects for both girls and boys. The boys may have abnormal body growth and development; they could be viewed as weak individuals. They might also lack beards or even a deepened voice. Testosterone levels decrease as men age; it represents the menopause stage — the rate at which sperms are produced declines and so does the libido. Muscle loss, lack of sleep, unpleasant mood swings and body fat increase are other effects.
The testicles are subjected to hypogonadism where they decrease in size and their sperm count also decreases. It can also be as a result of inadequate stimulation of the testes by the pituitary glands. Testosterone may be produced in the right quantities, but the testosterone receptors may fail to perform at their best due to erectile dysfunction hence leading to an unhealthy reproductive system (Isidori et al., 2014). Menopause can also affect the secretion of the required amount of testosterone by the body.
Research has been done, and awareness made to the public on how to take preventive measures and precaution for one to stay safe against such kinds of diseases. The symptoms include body hair loss, reduction of body mass, skin appearance, weak erections, difficulties when sleeping, fatigue, less endurance and a higher rate of mood changes. People are advised to seek medical specialists if the symptoms are observed for therapy sessions. There is still ongoing research on how to curb such issues. Testosterone replacement is seen as a solution to aid in controlling and preventing these diseases
Giving testosterone supplements is also a therapy. It works by increasing the transmission from to the testicle to increase its production and sperm count Men in the process of decision making on conceiving are discouraged from getting this therapy as it reduces the number of sperm count. It takes a long period for sperm production to recover fully.
Testosterone plays a significant role in individual health. It is more crucial for one's reproductive health and as part of the endocrine system means that the growth and regulation of metabolism, sleep, and sexual functions are kept at a normal moderate state. Awareness has been done to pass on the know on how much testosterone is of great importance to people, and it is up to each one to take care of themselves and to ensure their hormonal level are kept in check. Since enough research has been done, doctors can perform physical examinations to assess an individual's health condition and get prescription on effective treatment.
References
Anders, S. M. van, Steiger, J., & Goldey, K. L. (2015). Effects of gendered behavior on testosterone in women and men. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 112 (45), 13805–13810.
Isidori, A. M., Buvat, J., Corona, G., Goldstein, I., Jannini, E. A., Lenzi, A., Maggi, M. (2014). A Critical Analysis of the Role of Testosterone in Erectile Function: From Pathophysiology to Treatment—A Systematic Review. European Urology , 65 (1), 99–112.
Layton, J. B., Li, D., Meier, C. R., Sharpless, J. L., Stürmer, T., Jick, S. S., & Brookhart, M. A. (2014). Testosterone lab testing and initiation in the United Kingdom and the United States, 2000 to 2011. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , 99 (3), 835–842.
Vigen, R., O’donnell, C. I., Barón, A. E., Grunwald, G. K., Maddox, T. M., Bradley, S. M., ... & Rumsfeld, J. S. (2013). Association of testosterone therapy with mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke in men with low testosterone levels. Jama , 310 (17), 1829-1836.
