Pregnancy

Corpus Luteum Dependency and

Non-Dependency
 Corpus Luteum
• Yellow Body (Latin)
• The remains of a follicle after
ovulation
• Corpus Luteum Haemorrhagicum
• Endocrine Gland
 Corpus Luteum
• Two Hormonal Mechanisms
• First System
• Ensures morphogenesis
• Stimulates Progesterone Production
• Second System
• Stops secretory phenomena
• Morphological regression
 Corpus Luteum
• Luteal Phase
• Estrogen and Progesterone
secreted by CL exert Negative
Feedback on GnRH release
• decreased FSH and LH
 Corpus Luteum
• Fertilization
• Blastocyst trophoblast secretes
Chorionic Gonadotropin
• Corpus Luteum Graviditatis
• No Fertilization
• CL degenerates into Corpus
Luteum Albicans
 Hormones

Ovarian Corpus
Luteinizing
Interstitial Luteum
Hormone
Cells Formation
 Hormones
Development , Maintenance
of Female Characteristics
Most Tissues
Estradiol-17β Oocyte maturation

Uterine Proliferation

Increased FSH and LH levels stimulate secretion

Corpus
Luteum
Uterus,
Maintains uterine secretion
Mammary Glands
Progesterone Stimulates mammary duct formation

Increased LH and prolactin levels stimulate Secretion

 Hormones

Further growth
Chorionic
Placenta of
Gonadotropin
Corpus Luteum
 Corpus Luteum and
Pregnancy
• Placental Chorionic Gonadotropin
takes over the gonadotropic
function of the anterior pituitary
during early pregnancy by
maintaining the CL
• Placenta will soon take over CL
function
 Corpus Luteum and
Pregnancy
• Gestation
• Progesterone and Estrogen from
CL or placenta
• Initiates mammary tissues in
preparation for lactation
 Corpus Luteum and
Pregnancy

• Life span of CL prolonged during

pregnancy
• Stimulation maybe due to
presence of embryo
 Corpus Luteum of Pseudo-
Pregnancy
• If no pregnancy resulted, CL
disappears after 12 days after
ovulation and the estrous cycle is
re-established
• CL of pseudo-pregnancy cause an
increase in uterine size and
proliferation of mammary glands
that may tend to lactate
 Importance of CL to
• Sheeps and Animals
Pigs

• presence of embryos prolong CL life

span but does not increase functional
capacity

• CL of pregnancy dependent on embryo

• may protect CL from lytic effects of
the uterus

• may block uterus from acquiring its

lytic properties
 Importance of CL to
• Guinea pig, Animals
rat, mouse

• life-span and the functional activity of

the the CL increased during pregnancy

• luteal function of CL is affected by

the presence of the embryo

• In guinea pigs, embryos maintain

and stimulate CL of pregnancy
independently of hypophyseal
control from 2nd/3rd day after
mating
 Importance of CL to
Animals
• Incomplete Cyclers
• such as laboratory rodents
• CL is the major source of progesterone
only after an ovum is fertilized

• Equidae
• CL of pregnancy degenerates in early
gestation but replaced by accessory
corpora lutea
 Importance of CL to
• Ewes can maintain
Animals pregnancy
without CL after the 55th day of
gestation
• Torpedo marmorata
• CL is reported to be
steroidogenic
• Nectophrynoides occidentalis
• CL remain throughout pregnancy
and secrete progesterone
Nectophrynoides sp. Torpedo marmorata
 Importance of CL to
Animals
• Macropus eugenii
• removal of CL before day 17
interferes with successful
parturition
• progesterone and relaxin from CL
are needed for a healthy birth of
a young
Macropus eugenii
 Importance of CL to
Animals

• Mustelid carnivores, some

kangaroos
• CL regulate the embryonic
diapause of the blastocyst
 Importance of CL to
Animals
• There are some species in which
CL are not affected by pregnancy
• Mustela furo
• CL are maintained by a
pituitary luteotrophin
• Unaffected by any placental
luteotrophic effect
Mustela furo
 Importance of CL to
Animals
• Mustela mustela and Mustela
vison
• Embryo have little effect on
luteal function
• CL of pregnancy closely
resembles CL of pseudo-
pregnancy
 Importance of CL to
Animals
• Didelphis virginiana
• CL of gestation regresses
before parturition
• Trichosurus vulpecula
• presence of embryos in the
uterus is totally without effect
on CL
Didelphis virginiana Trichosurus vulpecula
 Importance of CL to
• In reptiles,Animals
• CL formation follows ovulation
• Duration is brief esp. in egg-
laying species
• Thamnopis elegans
• Luteoctomy caused a delay in
parturition; young have
placenta with yolk still in yolk
sac
 Importance of CL to
Animals
• Storeria dekayi
• CL contains 21-dehydrolase

Thamnopis elegans
Storeria dekayi
 References
• Casida, L. E., & E. J. Warwick. The Necessity of the Corpus Luteum for
Maintenance of Pregnancy in the Ewe. J Anim Sci 1945. 4:34-36.

• Denamur, R. Formation and Maintenance of Corpora Lutea in Domestic Animals. J

Anim Sci 1968. 27: 163-180.

• Jameson, E. W. Jr. (1988). Vertebrate Reproduction. John Wiley & Sons : Canada.

• Moor, R. M. Effect of Embryo on Corpus Luteum Function. J Anim Sci 1968. 27: 97-
118.

• Nalbandov, A. V. (1958). Reproductive Physiology : Comparative Reproductive

Physiology of Domestic Animals, Laboratory Animals and Man. W.H. Freeman : San
Francisco, USA.

• Randall, D., W. Burggren & K. French. (2002). Eckert Animal Physiology (5th ed.).
W.H. Freeman : China.