Female Cycles
Follicular Phase
Luteal Phase and Luteolysis
Luteal phase and P4
hormones and such
100
What are the 2 types of reproductive cycles in females? Additionally, what are the 2 phases of these cycles, and which of the 2 phases is longer?
The Estrous cycle and the Menstrual cycle
The follicular phase and the luteal phase, the luteal phase is the longest
100
What occurs in the follicular phase of the reproductive cycle?
A large dominant follicle grows, produces large E2 concentrations, and ovulation occurs.
100
What occurs during the luteal phase in primates?
Bonus: What occurs in the follicular phase?
Luteal: Corpus luteum P4 (progesterone) promotes endometrial cell health and secretion.
Follicular: Follicle E2 promotes endometrial cell proliferation (tissue growth)
100
Why is Progesterone (P4) utilized in agriculture?
Bonus: What is used to distribute it into the animal, and what does that replicate in humans?
Utilized to hold the female in non-ovulatory state until ovulation and insemination is desired.
Bonus: Controlled internal drug release (CIDR), replicates an IUD in humans.
100
What is Lordosis?
Curvature of spine into mating posture 
200
How long can sperm stay alive in the female reproductive tract in humans and bats?
Humans: 7 days
Bats: 100 days
200
What occurs in the HPG axis during the follicular phase?
Tonic secretions of GnRH stimulate FSH and LH secretion from the anterior pituitary and FSH stimulates follicular growth
200
What is the luteal phase of the reproductive cycle?
The luteal phase is always after the follicular phase. The ovulated follicle tissue becomes a corpus luteum and produces P4. If fertilization occurs, P4 from the CL supports the development of the young internally and the growth of the mammary gland.
200
What do Women commonly use Progesterone (P4) for?
Used in birth control to inhibit ovulation (with E2) and reduce sperm transport through the cervix in humans
200
How is maternal recognition of pregnancy signaled in cows? What about in humans?
Bonus: What does this disrupt?
Cows: Interferon tau (IFT)
Humans: human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) - pregnancy tests test for this
Bonus: Disrupts luteolysis
300
What is the menstrual cycle, and what makes it different than the estrous cycle?
Reproductive cycle in humans and primates
Endometrium (uterine tissue) grows considerably during follicular phase but sluffed off at end of cycle if pregnancy does not occur (menstruation)
Day 0 designated by signs of menstruation, ovulation occurs on day 14 of menstrual cycle
300
What are granulosa cells?
Have FSH receptors and convert T to E2 in response to FSH
300
What happens to the theca and granulosa cells during the luteal phase? Why is this important?
Theca cells become small luteal cells and granulosa become large luteal cells
Luteal cells have LH receptors and produce progesterone (P4) into blood in response to LH
300
What causes menstruation in primates?
Bonus: why does this cause bleeding?
A reduction of Progesterone (P4) during luteolysis.
leads to vasoconstriction of endometrial arterioles. Reduced blood flow results in cell/tissue necrosis (cell death), sluffing and menstruation.
300
What are the 3 forms the follicle takes during the luteal phase in order?
1. Corpus Hemorrhagicum
2. Corpus Luteum
3. Corpus Albican
400
What are the 3 different types of placenta, which species has which, and what are the differences between them?
Bonus: What 2 structures in a cow make up a placentome
Bonus II: What major cell type makes up the placenta
Cotlyedonary (specific to ruminants) - cow - Cotyledon is the connection between mom and baby
Zonary - dog and cat - bean with a stripe (stripe is connection point between mom and baby
Discoid- Human - water sac with discous connection zones between mom and baby
Bonus : cotyledon and caruncle
Bonus II : Trifectaderm
400
What are theca cells?
Theca Cells - have LH receptors and produce testosterone (T) in response to LH during follicular phase
400
What is Luteolysis? Does it happen with or without pregnancy?
The natural process of corpus luteum regression and disappearance from the ovary if pregnancy does not occur
400
What is the difference between the POA in males in females, what is this referred to in females?
In females the POA neurons can secrete GnRH in "surge" pulses (High frequency, high amplitude) when blood E2 concentrations are high (large growing follicle)
Referred to as the "surge center" in females
400
What are the Effects of Estradiol (E2) on the brain?
1. Lordosis (mating posture)
2. phonation
3. physical activity increase
500
What are the 3 different types of Estrus and which species use what?
Bonus: What is it called when estrus malfunctions in an animal
Polyestrus: Repeated cycles throughout the year - most mammals
Seasonal Polyestrus: Repeated Cycles during fall or spring - sheep and horses
Monoestrus: One or 2 cycles per year such as dog
Anestrus: an animal that has stopped cycling and no longer shows signs of estrus can be caused by disease, age, or nutritional deficiency, also caused by pregnancy and lactation.
500
What happens during the follicular phase in species that ovulate one oocyte?
The smaller antral follicles will die (atresia) but one large, dominant follicle will continue to grow
500
What causes luteolysis? How does this become disrupted?
Bonus: What else happens during luteolysis to prepare for the new follicular phase?
Caused by Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2⍺) produced by the uterus or corpus luteum, depending on the species. This becomes disrupted through a molecular signal from the embryo referred to as maternal recognition of pregnancy.
Bonus: P4 decreases during luteolysis, allowing the female to begin a new follicular phase and ovulate for another chance at conception.
500
Why is progesterone (P4) important in females? (6 functions in pregnancy)
Bonus: Some species have an additional structure to produce P4 during pregnancy. What is it?
1. Stimulates uterus to secrete molecules that support embryo development
2. cervix constricts and secretes thick mucus as barrier to uterus
3. Stimulates mammary gland growth
4. inhibits uterine smooth muscle contractions
5. inhibits negative immune responses toward embryo
6. has negative feedback to hypothalamus surge center
Bonus: the placenta
500
What are the physiological effects of high concentrations of estradiol in a female?
1. Stimulate sexual receptivity with an estrus cycle
2. induce surge pulses of GnRH/LH and ovulation
3. stimulates production of lubricating vaginal/cervical mucus
4. Stimulates smooth muscle contractions in the reproductive tract
5. increased blood flow to repro tract