1

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTIVE CYCLES

Part I

ByDr. Abdul samik, M.Si.,Drh

2

The Reproduction Cycles

Phenomena : • Puberty and sexual maturity• The breeding season• The estrous cycle• Postpartum sexual activity• Aging and fertility

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

3

Regulation of Reproductive Cycle

• Environmental• Genetic• Physiologic• Hormonal• Behavioral• Psychosocial

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

4

Events of Reproduction• Puberty- Age at which reproductive organs become

functional• Female- Reproduction process occurs within

– Estrous cycle- Repetitive cycle occurring when pregnancy does not

– Estrus- “Heat” or receptivity to mating• Fertilization- Egg & Sperm unite

– Only real male contribution is the sperm• Gestation- Length of time of pregnancy• Parturition- Act of giving birth

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

5

Age of Puberty

• Cattle: 6 to 12 Months• Sheep: 5 to 7 Months• Swine: 4 to 8 Months• Horses: 12 to 15 Months• Humans: 9 to 16 Years

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

Puberty in Heifers

• Physiological events leading up to puberty• Endocrine and morphological events in

peripubertal heifers are similar to the resumption of cyclicity post partum in mature cows.

• Decreased negative feedback of oestradiol • Maturation of the hypothalamus • Increased frequency of release of LH pulses • Enhanced development of ovarian follicles • Enough oestradiol produced to induce

behavioural oestrus and a preovulatory surge of gonadotrophins

• Puberty is attained with the first behavioural oestrus that is accompanied by ovulation and development of a corpus luteum with a typical life span

• What influences the onset of puberty in heifers?

• Factors that can influence the pubertal rise in release of LH pulses are:

• genotype • season of year when pubertal age is

attained • growth or nutritional intake • social cues • treatment with exogenous hormones

Endocrine mechanisms of puberty

8

The Estrus Cycle

• When Heifer becomes sexually mature• ovaries function in a cycle activity• estrus period cycle 17-24 days (21 days)

Estrous cycle – period of time from one estrus to the next

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

9

Breeding Season• Monoestrous : dog, cat• Polyestrous (cycle throughout year) : cattle,

goat, sheep, swine• Seasonal polyestrous (Decreasing light, Fall) :

sheep, goat• Seasonal polyestrus (Increasing daylight,

Spring) : horse

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

10

Length of Estrus Cycle

• Cattle: 19 to 23 Days• Sheep: 14 to 19 Days• Swine: 19 to 23 Days• Horses: 10 to 37 Days

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

11

Duration of Estrus Phase

• Cattle: 6 to 27 Hours• Sheep: 24 to 36 Hours• Swine: 48 to 72 Hours• Horses: 3 to 8 Days

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

12

Luteal phase.

A corpus luteum is formed under the influence of pituitary LH. The function of the corpus luteum is to secrete progesterone, which reduces the amount of the hormone oestrogen produced. As long as the corpus luteum is functional, oestrogen is unable to trigger formation of the follicle (a large fluid-filled sac containing the egg). By day 18 the corpus luteum degenerates due to prostaglandin (released from the uterus) and goes through a regression phase. Associated with corpus luteum regression is a decline in progesterone

13

14

Follicular phase

Following the decline in progesterone, an increase in oestrogen (mainly oestradiol-17β) takes place and peaks before the onset of oestrus.

Oestrogen stimulates the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus.

GnRH stimulates the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland. LH rises to a peak at the beginning of oestrus. FSH and LH stimulate the

development of follicles in the ovary.

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

15

One follicle predominates which secretes oestrogen and triggers a wide range of anatomical and physiological changes in the cow

All the changes ensure that if the cow is mated, the sperm will stay alive until one of the spermatozoa will effect fertilisation.

The follicle ruptures and releases the egg (ovulation).

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

16

18

Stage of heatStage of heat

ProestrusProestrus EstrusEstrus

Metestrus Metestrus DiestrusDiestrus

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

19

Stage of heatA. Proestrus• day 19 -21• period for preparation of

sexual activity

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

20

Stage of heatB. Estrus (heat, sexual

desire)• period of sexual activity,

female permit mating• duration : 6 - 30 hrs

(heifer 15, cows 18hrs)

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

21

Signs of Estrus

• Primary Sign of Estrus

– Stands immobile when mounted.

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

22

Secondary Signs of Estrus• Behavioral

– Bellowing– Increased Activity– Walking the fence line– Charging– Butting– Licking

– Sniffing– Flehmen posture

(inverted nostrils)– Circling– Chin-resting– Mounting

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

23

• Physical Signs of Estrus

– Manure on flanks– Roughened tailhead– Loss of hair on tailhead– Abrasions on tailhead

– Red vulva– Swollen vulva– Clear mucus

discharge from vulva

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

24

• Miscellaneous Signs of Estrus

– Depressed appetite– Depressed milk production– Frequent Urination– Metestrus bleeding : 35-45 hours

after estrus; too late to breed

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

25

Stage of heatC. Metestrus (after heat)• day 1-5 of cycle• not permit mounting• 50% cow , 90% heifer -

metestral bleeding• corpus luteum begins to

develop

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

26

Stage of heatD. Diestrus (between heat)• day 5 - 19• complete lack of sexual

desire

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

Estrous Cycle

0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8 2 0 1

Hor

mon

e Le

vel

Progesterone (P4)

Estradiol (E2)

Day of Estrous Cycle

New CLForming

Mature CL Present Fol. Size

& CL Size

LH and FSH During the Estrous CycleH

o rm

one

Con

cen t

r at i

o n

Days Relative to EstrusEstrus Estrus5 10 15

Progesterone

FSH

LH

The Estrous Cycle in CattleH

o rm

one

Con

cen t

r at i

o n

Days Relative to EstrusEstrus Estrus5 10 15

1st

Wave2nd

WaveProgesterone

EstradiolFSH

LH

30

Mechanisms of luteolysis during the oestrus cycle of cowsLuteolysis starts between days 16-17 post oestrus in the cow. Bovine luteal tissue is

usually not responsive to PGF2-alpha until after day 4 post oestrus

Two major mechanisms of luteolysis have been suggested:

1. Reduction of the blood flow in the corpus luteum (CL)A rapid decrease in luteal blood flow has been recently proposed as one of the main luteolytic actions of PGF2-alpha. It was demonstrated that the reduction in luteal blood supply 8 hours after prostaglandin injection was coincident with the onset of structural luteolysis, the first significant decrease in CL volume was seen.

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

31

2. Direct action on luteal cells

A direct action of prostaglandin on the luteal cells, resulting from both the

decrease in cAMP synthesis normally produced in response to LH and the

inhibition of the steroidogenic action of cAMP. These effects would be further

amplified by a reduction in the number of receptors for LH.

This theory is further supported by the result of a study that demonstrated that

a prostaglandin-induced decrease in plasma progesterone concentrations

occurs before a detectable decrease in both the volume of the CL and the

luteal blood flow.

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

32

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

33

Follicular development in cattle

Ovarian follicular growth and development in ruminants is characterised by

two or three consecutive follicular waves per oestrous cycle.

Each wave involves the recruitment of a cohort of follicles and the selection of

a dominant follicle.

The dominant follicle continues to grow and mature to the preovulatory stage

while others undergo atresia.

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

Hor

mon

e Le

vel

P4

E2

Ovulation

Attretic (Die)OvarianFollicularPool

Follicular Waves

35

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

36

37

Recruitment of follicular waves

The growth of follicular waves is initiated by a rise in circulating FSH.

All follicles growing as a cohort contain specific receptors for FSH and

depend on this gonadotrophin in their growth.

At this stage the growing follicles do not have a sufficient population of

LH receptors to respond to a LH-like stimulation.

For this reason this stage of follicular growth is sometimes called FSH-

dependent.

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

38

For reasons not yet properly understood only one dominant follicle is selected

from among the cohort recruited by the small rise in FSH. A defining

characteristic of the dominant follicle appears to be its greater capacity for

estradiol production.

Selection of the dominant follicle is associated with a decrease in FSH, FSH is

maintained at basal levels. The selected future dominant follicle acquires LH

receptors which allow it to continue growth in the environment of low FSH and

increasing LH levels.

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

39

It seems that by decreasing the FSH support, the selected follicle depletes

subordinate follicles from their vital growth stimulant while it benefits from

both the low FSH and growing LH stimulation

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009

40

Selected dominant follicle and ovulation

Following its selection, DF growth, oestrogen activity and lifespan are

controlled by the LH pulse pattern. In response to maximum concentrations

of oestrogens produced by the dominant follicle a massive LH release takes

place. It is called a pre-ovulatory LH surge or peak and acts as the direct

stimulation of ovulation

Department of Veterinary ReproductionFaculty of Veterinary Medicine

Airlangga University 2009