Endocrinology of Pregnancy Flashcards
5 hormones secreted by the placenta?
Chorionic Gonadotropin Progesterone Estrogen Placental Lactogen Relaxin
5 things hormones produced by placenta can do
- Stimulate ovarian function
- Maintain pregnancy
- Influence fetal growth
- Stimulate mammary functions
- Assist in parturition
What does “progesterone block” mean?
Progesterone prevents any uterine contraction during pregnancy (myometrial contractions)
What species is the CL not required for the entire gestation?
Ewe
Mare
Woman
Gestational length in the following species.
Alpaca
11.4months
Gestational length in the following species.
Bitch
2months
Gestational length in the following species.
Camel
12.3months
Gestational length in the following species.
Cow
9months
Gestational length in the following species.
Ewe
5months
Gestational length in the following species.
Goat
5months
Gestational length in the following species.
Llama
11.3 months
Gestational length in the following species.
Mare
11months
Gestational length in the following species.
Queen
2months
Gestational length in the following species.
Rabbit
1month
Gestational length in the following species.
Sow
3.8months
What do endometrial cups produce and what does it act as?
eCG
Acts as a luteotropic factor
Also induces multiple lutenization of dominant follicles during pregnancy, causing for multiple CL which increases progesterone levels
Which species have placental lactogen?
Cows
Sheep
Mice
Humans
Role of placental lactogen?
- Promotes growth of fetus
2. Can stimulate mammary glands
Explain initiation of parturition?
Stress on fetus causes for release of ACTH from fetal anterior lobe of pituitary
Two major events triggered
- Removal of progesterone block
- Increase of reproductive tract secretions
Effect of PGF2alpha secreted by placenta?
- Causes increase of myometrium activity
2. Causes regression of the CL
How does estrogen profile of mare differ from cow during gestation?
Cow has a sudden sharp increase of estrogen when compared to the mares more gradual increase
3 Stages of parturition?
- Initiation of myometrial contractions (removal of progesterone block)
- Expulsion of fetus
- Expulsion of fetal membranes
What is puerperium?
Period after parturition when the reproductive tracts return to non-pregnant conditions
4 major events of puerperium?
- Myometrial contractions and expulsion of lochia
- Endometrial repair
- Resumption of ovarian functions
- Elimination of bacterial contamination of the reproductive tract
3 roles of myometrial contractions?
- Facilitate the discharge of fluids
- Compress the uterine vasculature and minimize the hemorrhage
- Reduce the size of the uterus
What is lochia?
Discharge expelled from the vulva
How much lochia in a cow is discharged in first days of puerperium?
up to 2000ml of lochia