REPRODUCTIVE

PHYSIOLOGY
 ◦ Fertilisation (head of sperm penetrates cytoplasm of ovum)
◦ There is an oestrous cycle and there is oestrus. There is an ovarian
cycle and oestrous cycle. Ovarian= development of ovaries/ ova.
Oestrous= uterus, uterus wall.
◦ Know what types of oestrous cycle the different species have (poly-,
di-, mono-, seasonally poly-oestrous)

QUICK ◦ Ovarian cycle (Cyclical sequence of events under influence of FSH

BASICS and LH). Has short follicular phase and long luteal phase
-primary follicle
-growing follicle
-mature follicle
-ovulation
-CL→ prep for pregnancy
◦ -There are different stages of the
oestrous cycle (proestrus, oestrus=
heat, metoestrus, anoestrus)
◦ -Know the components of the male
and female reproductive system and
their functions

◦ -Spermatogenesis?
◦ -Oogenesis?
 PREGNANCY AND LACTATION
-Semen vs spermatozoa? -Implantation?
-For implantation to occur, there
-Know how sperm moves from the male reproductive must be maternal recognition of
system to the female’s pregnancy
-Emission, Expulsion, Ejaculation

-Capacitation of sperm?
→ Realignment of position of proteins on the surface
of the acrosome
→ Sperm take on exaggerated whiplash-like motility
(so they can swim fast)

-Fertilisation
→Capacitated sperm penetrate oocyte to fuse with
ovum plasma membrane and this creates an opening
through which sperm nucleus is transferred into the
ovum→ zygote→ morula→ blastocyst→ implantation
◦ -Function of placenta?
◦ -Different species, different placentas (shape and contact sites, tissue
layer in contact with chorionic epithelium)

Tissue layer in contact with chorionic epithelium

→Epitheliochorial (horses, pigs, ruminants)
→Endotheliochorial (dogs and cats)

Shape and contact sites

→Diffuse form= horses and pigs
-->Cotyledonary= ruminants
→Zonary= carnivores
→discoid= humans
 Gestation and Labour
-Stages of gestation -Stages of labour -Mammary glands develop throughout
→1st trimester →1st stage gestation, reach their peak soon before birth
→2nd trimester (contractions) -Develop due to a decrease of some
→ 3rd trimester →2nd stage (baby) hormones and increase of other. There must
→3rd stage (afterbirth) be a balance of these hormones!
→ Most NB is progesterone, oestrogen,
prolactin
 References for images
◦ https://www.drovers.com/news/beef-production/3-stages-parturition-calving
◦ https://abundantpermaculture.com/cow-giving-birth-naturally/
◦ https://www.americandairymen.com/articles/identifying-reproduction-benchmarks
◦ https://stock.adobe.com/za/images/sperm-and-egg-cell-natural-fertilization-3d-
illustration-on-red-background/202344843
◦ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-12-biology-
india/xc09ed98f7a9e671b:in-in-human-reproduction/xc09ed98f7a9e671b:in-in-
gametogenesis/a/oogenesis-and-follicular-development-review
◦ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-12-biology-
india/xc09ed98f7a9e671b:in-in-human-reproduction/xc09ed98f7a9e671b:in-in-
gametogenesis/a/spermatogenesis-review