8,9: Physiology of the Estrous Cycle - Volkmann Flashcards
basis of FM repro system / cycles is?
follicular waves
goal of FM repro sys?
to produce an oocyte that can be fertilized at predictable time (or multiple in litter bearing species)
what happens to majority of follicles that the ovary produces?
they become atretic
few will ovulate
at what stage are oocytes arrested in ovary?
diplotene stage of meiosis 1
what holds the oocytes in arrest?
meiosis inhibiting factor/AMH
what produces meiosis inhibiting factor/AMH?
granulosa cells
describe primordial follicles?
resting oocyte that contains oocyte surrounded by a layer of granulosa cells
T/F - the source of follicles throughout the life of a FM is infinite
FALSE - finite
why does only 1 follicle develop at 1 time?
b/c the follicle past primordial stage has layer of granulosa cells that sec AMH, suppressing the development of others
diff btwn structure of primordial and primary follicles
primary have 2 layers of granulosa cells
secondary follicle?
several layers of granulosa cells and zona pellucida around oocyte
what distinguishes tertiary follicle from secondary?
has antrum
structure of tertiary follicle?
lined inside by granulosa cells anchored to basement membrane
what 2 layers of cells are loc either side of the basement membrane of tertiary follicle?
granulosa cells anchored to BM in follicle
theca cell populations loc on other side of BM
what are the 2 populations of theca cells? fxns?
theca interna cells - endocrine organs
theca externa cells - skeleton that surrounds follicle => fibrous tissue
what triggers initial development of follicular waves?
gonadatropins
FSH - basal levels
what triggers antral formation?
conversion from secondary to tertiary follicles
higher FSH levels
what triggers the rise in FSH levels that triggers antral formation?
GnRH dependent from hypo
what receptors are on granulosa cells?
FSH
what receptors are on thecal cells?
LH
as granulosa cells dev, what hormone do they produce?
e2
what changes does e2 cause on receptors of granulosa cells?
induces formation of more FSH receptors
cycle continues - b/c follicles are stimulated to make more e2, which makes more FSH receptors on granulosa cells so follicles can develop and make more e2…
where does antral fluid come from?
fluid is secreted by granulosa cells
T/F - once a follicle develops, it can arrest again later
FALSE - once it begins, it cannot stop
in species except for the dog, what stage oocyte is ovulated?
secondary oocyte
what stage oocyte is released in the dog?
primary oocyte - meiosis must finish before fertilization can occur
fxn of LH?
to promote the follicle to mature and drive rupture of follicle at ovulation
matures graffian follicle to ovulatory follicle - causes ovulation
after ovulation, what role does LH have?
governs conversion of e2 producing follicle to a p4 producing CL
besides e2, what hormone do granulosa cells produce?
inhibin
what does inhibin inhibit?
suppresses FSH release
w/o FSH, no follicle or gonadal fxn can occur
when inhibin levels are high and FSH levels are low, where do granulosa cells get support from?
LH -> which drives follicle to next stage of a CL
what do theca cells take in and what do they use it to produce?
take cholesterol from circulation and convert it to progestogen -> utilize LH to convert it to testosterone
after theca cells make testosterone, where does it go and what happens there?
testosterone goes from theca cells, across BM, into granulosa cells, where it is converted to estrogen
via aromatase enzyme
what happens to granulosa cells after ovulation and why can it happen so quickly?
converted to CL b/c they are poorly vascularized and are loosely attached
what is level and fxn of FSH after ovulation?
high b/c inhibin is gone
it promotes the follicular wave to develop
what is considered day 0 of cycle?
when FM ovulates and a new follicular wave starts
why does a new follicular wave start when the FM ovulates?
b/c the dominant follicle produced inhibin - it is gone now so no inhibin and other follicles can develop in new wave
what hormone spikes after ovulation and drives development of new folliclular wave?
FSH
what changes does LH surge cause at ovulation and what hormone is secreted as a result?
follicle becomes CL
CL produces p4
what are e2 levels just after ovulation?
low [b/c now a CL, no longer a graffian follicle]
as one dominant follicle emerges during the follicular wave, what hormonal changes does this trigger?
dom follicle produces inhibin
FSH sec decrease as result
also e2 being produced, positive feedback to surge center
with dec FSH levels, how does dom follicle survive?
granulosa cells of follicle now rely on LH - look for ovulatory surge of LH to ovulate
if LH is not there [due to high p4] then the follicle does not survive and become atretic
what hormone suppresses the ovulatory surge of GnRH and subsequent LH?
p4 - works at level of hypo
T/F - p4 suppresses release of LH at level of pit?
FALSE
it suppresses GnRH surge at level of hypo - NOT LH surge from pit
so: you can give a FM a dose of LH and she will ovulate, despite high p4 levels - b/c LH is not inhibited - GnRH is inhibited at hypo
as a follicle becomes atretic, what happens to the hormone profile it produces?
e2 and inhibin levels fall
as inhibin levels fall, what hormone is allowed to inc?
FSH
which stimulates another follicular wave to occur
what does p4 do to the surge center?
it primes it - it inhibits the release of GnRH but induces expression of e2 receptors - so when there are enough e2 receptors present, the GnRH surge can occur -> ovulation will result
how does e2 promote ovulation indirectly?
sec from dom follicle
positive feedback to GnRH surge center -> eventually causes GnRH surge -> LH surge follows -> ovulation success
at what stages of FM life is it hard to produce GnRH surge to initiate cycling?
- pre puberty
- post partum [every time]
- post anovulatroy season [if seasonal animal]
clinically Tx FM to prime surge center by giving exogenous p4 using what products in what species?
regumate in mare
CIDR in cow
matrix in sow
T/F - e2, produced by large dom follicle, suppresses FSH secretion from pit gland.
False -> e2 does NOT suppress FSH sec
this was prior beliefs
now known: INHIBIN talks to ant pit to suppress FSH sec
t/f: in order to survive, all antral follicles require either FSH or LH or both
true
all viable follicles require gonadotropin support via FSH and /or LH
in spontaneously cycling animals, how can you start a new follicular wave?
by ending another one / the current one
make her ovulate the current follicle
why does ending one wave allow a new one to start?
b/c it gets rid of inhibin -> thus releasing suppression of FSH and allowing next wave to emerge in ovary
it is not uncommon for cows to have 2 or 3 follicular waves in one cycle. why is this NOT common in horses? horses tend to have only 1 follicular wave per cycle - why?
b/c mare has a drawn out LH surge (vs sharp LH surge of cow)
why is the prolonged LH surge of mare necessary?
b/c she ovulates 6-7 days after - so she is dependent on LH for follicle to survive
how do you shut off follicular development in mare?
e2 - shuts down ovaries - switch off follicular development
NOT inhibin - e2!
why does e2 shut down mare follicular development?
b/c e2 inhibits FSH secretion
immediately after ovulation, what structure is on the ovary?
corpus hemorrhagicum
why does corpus hemorrhagicum structure form?
collapse of follicle wall
disruption of BM (basement mem)
ingrowth of blood vessels
hemorrhage
after corpus hemorrhagicum develops, what cellular transformation occurs and what hormone does it secrete?
thecal cells [and maybe granulosa cells become luteal cells
luteal cells secrete p4
purpose of p4?
maintain pregnancy
therefore if not preg - get rid of p4 [source = CL]