Past papers Flashcards
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SEX DIFFERENTIATION
Sex differentiation:
- 4 steps:
- Chromosomal (genetic)
- Gonadal (hormonal)
- Somatic (phenotypic)
- Psychic (brain)
- chromosomal:
- mammals xx & xy
- birds zw(female) & zz
- Some reptiles have no heteromorphic sex chromosomes
- temperature determines sex in many reptiles (pivotal temp)
- TDF
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SEMINAL PLASMA
sperm +seminal plasma = semen
ejaculated sperm delivered to female repro tract via seminal plasma
Seminal plasma derived from accessory glands
–Prostate gland
–Seminal vesicle
–ampulla
Produced by accessory sex glands
Varies widely between species
Provides a fluid vehicle for sperm (buffer and
metabolic support)
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RAM EFFECT
- synchronised oestrus cycle
- cycling approx 2- 3 months earlier (from mid Dec to late October)
- sheep are short day breeders
- works best close to anticipated breeding season
- melatonin works best with ram effect
- progesterone injection to prime females - avoids short cycle
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REGUMATE
- supresses oestrus in mares
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LEYDIG CELLS
- primary source of testosterone and androgen in males
- ## in the testes (between seminiferous tubules)
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INDUCTION OF PARTURITION
Stage 1: Initiation of myometrial contractions
- regular uterine contractions
- P4 converted to E2
- pressure on cervix = oxytocin from pituatry
- Placenta produces PGF2α
Stage 2: Expulsion of the fetus
- Strong uterine and abdominal contractions
- Relaxin loosens supportive tissue of the birth canal
- cervix and vagina produce mucus
- Fetal movement promotes further myometrial contraction
Stage 3: Expulsion of the fetal membranes
- uterine contractions decrease
- Vasoconstriction of vessels at fetal/maternal interface
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SPERM SEXING
- differentiates based on x and y DNA content
- stained and the separated with a lazer
- used in cattle
- currently researching to use in sheep
Benefits: - female selection: replacement of dairy heifers and stopping unwanted male calves
- male selection: desirable genes –> increased stud production
- manage endangered species breeding in captivity
- control sex-linked diseases in humans
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PUBERTY
Puberty – “the period or age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction of offspring”
• animal gains ability to produce offspring
• Requires physiological, physical and behavioural maturation
• Not a dramatic event; can take months - years.
- indicators of puberty in males and females
- puberty initiated by Influence of the pineal gland and melatonin
- different factors affect puberty
Immediately before puberty starts:
• Pituitary contains Gn’s but they are not secreted in large quantities
• Peaks of Gn’s gradually increase closer to puberty
• Follicles develop and secrete low levels of E2 but ovulation does not occur
• Low level spermatogenesis may occur
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GnRH PULSE GENERATOR
located in hypothalamus
Elicit release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary gland, which in turn stimulate release of steroid from the testes
melatonin stimulates GnRH secretion
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MORULA
- say 3-4 after oocyte fertilised
Morula Compaction:
– Occurs at around 16- to 32-cell stage
– Tight junctions form between outer cells
– Individual cells become less distinct
– Cells merge into an “amorphous mass”
– Sodium is pumped into the interior, creating an osmotic gradient
– This causes water to enter the embryo
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LORDOSIS
Lordosis = curving of the spine
- a visual cue of errection
- mice/ rats/ cats/ rabbits assume lordosis as a mating behaviour
- response of increased estrogen
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EPIDIDYMIS
• Mature and store sperm
– Sperm subsequently transported by muscles in epididymis
– Passage through epididymis takes 6-14 days
Maturation of sperm through epididymis:
- Caput (head): Sperm immotile, infertile, Proximal cytoplasmic droplet
- Cauda (tail): Sperm forward progressive motile, Fertile, Distal cytoplasmic droplet
Sperm require further maturation in the epididymis and inside the female tract before fertilisation
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BEHAVIOURAL OESTRUS
- mating behaviour --> changes depending on species Rats: Pre-copulatory • Genital sniffing • Display of “ear quiver response” Copulatory • Assumes lordosis position Post-copulatory • Genital licking
Horses: Pre-copulatory • Frequent urination • Tail deviation (exposure of genitals) • Winking • Genital sniffing Copulatory • Acceptance of male Post-copulatory • Minimal
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FOLLICULAR WAVES
Lecture notes, oestrus cycle
(slide 16)
First, second and 3rd waves
Continuous follicular waves give constant high E2
In Proestrus: P4 decreasing, E2, LH and FSH increasing with FSH suddnly dropping at end of prestrus
In estrus: E2 reaches a peak and LH spikes, FSH comes back up to its highest point. ALL 3 decrease rapidly at end of estrus phase
- length of follicular phase variable between species
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JUVENILE IN VITRO EMBRYO TRANSFER
WHY?
To increase the rate of genetic gain by decreasing generation interval
HOW?
♀Prime juvenile animals at a time to capture the follicular development,
cause ovulation and collect ova
♂Initiate spermatogenesis and collect sperm by testicular biopsy or castration
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GnRH PULSES
GnRH pulses elicit release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary gland, which in turn stimulate release of steroid from the testes
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OOCYTE MATURATION
– In primordial and pre-antral follicles
– Oocyte diameter increases from 25 µm to 130 μm
– Zona pellucida (protein coat) formed
• Gap junctions maintain link between oocyte and the surrounding cells
– Cytoplasmic changes
• Large amounts of rRNA and mRNA synthesized
• Essential proteins accumulated
• Organelles formed (mitochondria, ER, Golgi complex)
– In antral follicles
– Oocyte diameter doesn’t increase further
– Protein accumulation and mRNA synthesis continues
– Surrounding cells promote oocyte maturation
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BLASTOCYST
5-6 days after ovulation
approx 70-100 cells
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MATERNAL RECOGNITION OF PREGNANCY
Conceptus provides a biochemical signal that prevents luteolysis (maternal recog of pregnancy)
different in different breeds
PGF2a blocked in all species but pigs
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SEX DETERMINATION
Mammals
xx(female) xy(male
Birds
females (zw)
males (zz)
reptiles
some have no heteromorphic sex chromosomes
temp determines sex in many reptiles
TDF
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ABNORMAL SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION
androgen recpertor deficency
adrenal hyperplasia in XX females
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia in XY males
progestational steroids during pregnancy
XX males
freemartism in cattle
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SPERMATIDS
an immature male sex cell formed from a spermatocyte, which may develop into a spermatozoon without further division.
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PMSG
Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophin or eCG
- can be used for moderate stimulation of ovulation
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MELATONIN
from pineal gland releases melatonin which acts on hypothalamus supre-chiasmatic nucleus –> GnRH pulse generator
increases twinning rate (in lambs)
advances breeding season
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OVASTIM
fecundity (fertility) vaccine that increases the eggs available for fertilisation by the ram, increasing twinning rates
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FEMALE SENESENCE
Human female senescence is abrupt – depletion of eggs
Farm animals is reduced ability of ovaries and uterus to support
pregnancy (unusual, as animal disposed of prior to this occurring)
embryo survival decreases
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PREIMPLANATION EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT
ootid –> zygote –> 2 celled embryo –> morula –> early blastocyst –> hatching blastocysts –> hatched blastocyst
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EXTRAEMBRYORIC MEMBRANES
chorion and amnion
There are 4 - They are the YOLK SAC, the ALLANTOIS, the AMNION, and the CHORION
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CLONING
creating an animal that is genetically identical to a donor animal through somatic cell nuclear transfer
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CRYOPROTECTANTS
pellets and straws
– Cryopreserved sperm require more sperm per dose due to having half the lifespan of fresh sperm