Hormones in femal reproduction

• Hormone - Chemical messenger

» ductless gland or tissue
• --------------blood ......
• target organ.
– regulate (decrease or increase) the rates of specific
processes
– Local Hormone or Para Hormones
-chemical messengers or regulators. - Prostaglandins,
erythropoietin, and histamine.
• Chemical types of hormones:
– Peptide - Few - Several amino acids
– Protein - Long chains of amino acids 
– Glycoprotein - Protein hormone with carbohydrate
molecules
 
 CLASSIFICATION OF HORMONES
• Based on their structure:
– Proteins -molecular weight of 300 to 70,000 Daltons
– Steroids -common cyclopentano perhydro phenantherene ring
– Fatty acids -molecular weight of approximately 400 Daltons,
» Can be administered by injection
 Based on their origin
• Hypothalamic hormones eg. GnRH.
• Pituitary Hormones eg. FSH/LH
• Gonadal Hormones eg. Estrogen,
Progesterone
• Uterine hormones eg. PGF2 α
• Placental hormones eg. hCG, eCG.
 BASED ON MODE OF ACTION

• Neurohormones : Synthesized by neurons. eg. Oxytocin.

• Releasing hormones: Synthesized by neurons in hypothalamus and
cause release of hormones from pituitary. eg. GnRH.
• Gonadotrophins: Hormones released by the gonadotroph cells of the
anterior pituitary and stimulate gonads. The suffix `tropin’ means
having an affinity for. eg. FSH and LH.
• Sexual promoters (Steroids): Produced by the gonads of both male
and female to stimulate the reproductive tract, to regulate function
of hypothalamus and anterior pituitary and to regulate reproductive
behaviour.
• Pregnancy maintenance hormones: are responsible for maintenance
of pregnancy. (eg. Progesterone) and in some cases, assist the female
in her lactation ability.
• General metabolic hormones: promote metabolic well being. eg.
Thyroxin, adrenal corticoids and somatrophin.
• Luteolytic hormones: cause destruction of the corpus luteum. The
suffix `lytic’ is a derivative of word lysis. eg. PGF 2 α
 Concept of Receptors:
•  protein & peptide hormones - plasma
membrane.
•  steroid homrones – nucleus
•  prostaglanding hormones - plasma
membrane.
Gland Hormone  Chemical Class Principal Functions 

Hypothalamus Gonadotropic Decapeptide Stimulates release of

Releasing FSH and LH from
Hormone(GnRH) anterior pituitary

  Dopamine  Biogenic Amine Inhibits release of

prolactin 

  Corticotropic Peptide Stimulates ACTH

Releasing release 
Hormone(CRH) 

  Growth Hormone- Peptide Stimulates release of

Releasing growth hormone 
Hormone (GRH) 

  Oxytocin Octapeptide Produced by the

hypothalamus,
released at the
posterior pituitary.
Gland Hormone  Chemical Class Principal Functions 
Anterior Follicle Stimulating Glycoprotein Stimulate follicle growth
Pituitary  Hormone(FSH) - Stimulate estrogen production
Follicotropin Spermiogenesis in male

  Luteinizing Glycoprotein Stimulate ovulation

Hormone (LH) Support CL formation, and
- Luteotropin progesterone secretion
Stimulate testosterone synthesis
by leydig cells of testis

  Prolactin  Protein Stimulate milk synthesis 

Regulate metabolism for milk
synthesis
Effects Maternal Behavior

  Adrenalcorticotropic Protein Release of corticosteroids &

Hormone(ACTH)  glucocorticoids from adrenal
cortex to initiate parturition
Gland Hormone  Chemical Class Principal Functions 

Pineal Gland Melatonin  Biogenic amine

Control of seasonal
reproduction in Mare &
Ewe
Regulate hair growth

Posterior Pituitary Oxytocin  Octapeptide Stimulate myometrial

contractions for sperm
transport, parturition &
milk ejection 
Gland Hormone  Chemical Class Principal Functions 
Ovary  Graafian Estrogens (Estradiol)  Steroid Mating behavoir,
Follicle Secondary sex
characteristics,
Maintenance of female
duct system , Mammary
growth 

  Inhibin (Folliculostatin) Protein Regulates release of FSH

from anterior pituitary

Corpus Luteum Progestins (Progestero Steroid

ne)  Maintenance of
pregnancy, Mammary
growth & secretion

  Relaxin  Polypeptide Expansion of pelvis

Dilation of cervix 
Gland Hormone  Chemical Class Principal Functions 

Placenta Human Chorionic Glycoprotein LH-like - Involved with

Gonadotropin(HCG)  establishment of pregnancy in
human. Support and maintain CL

 Endometrial Equine Chorionic Glycoprotein FSH-like- some LH activity

Cups Mare Gonadotropin(eCG)Old Immunological protection of foal
name - Pregnant Mare during pregnancy Formation of
Serum Gonadotropin accessory CL in mare 
(PMSG) 

  Estrogens/Progestins  Steroids Regulate placental

bloodflowMaintenance of
pregnancy
  Relaxin  Protein Relaxation/dialation of cervix for
parturition 
  Placenal Lactogen  Glycoprotein Stimulates mammary growth &
milk secretion. 
Uterine  Prostaglandin Lipid Regression of CLStimulate
EndometriumGra F2a (PGF2a) myometrial
afian contractionsOvulationSperm
FolliclesSeminal transport
Vesicles
 Hypothalamus, -
brain centre that controls
all our reproductive
activities
It lies at the base of the
brain

Bordered anteriorly by the optic chiasma, posteriorly by the

mammillary bodies, dorsally by the thalamus and ventrally
by the sphenoid bone
• Clusters or groups of neurons -hypothalamic nuclei, each of
which have a specific name.
– the surge center
• The preoptic nucleii(PON),
• the anterior hypothalamic area (AHA),
• suprachiasmatic nucleii(SCN)
• tonic center
– The ventromedian nucleii(VMN),
– the arcuate nucleii(ARC)
– median eminence(ME) and
• paraventricular nucleus.
• The medial portion of the hypothalamus known as third
ventricle of the brain separates most of the paired nuclei.
• Neurons in the hypothalamus communicate with the anterior
lobe of the pituitary using a special circulatory modification
known as the hypothalamo- hypophyseal portal system.
 Pituitary gland
lies below the hypothalamus in a bony depression in the sphenoid bone
called the Sella turcica. It consists of anterior and posterior lobes.
Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system :
Superior hypophyseal artery(SHA)
Primary portal plexus(PPP) (where the neurons of the surge center and tonic center terminate),
Medial hypophyseal artery (MHA) supplies part of the anterior lobe of the pituitary,
Portal vessels(PV) -transport the blood containing releasing hormones
Secondary portal plexus(SPP) -delivers blood and releasing hormones to the cells of
the anterior lobe.
• The terminal portion of the hypothalamic
neurons release neuropeptides that
enter specialized capillary system at the
stalk of the pituitary. Blood enters the
capillary system from the superior
hypophyseal artery that divides into
small arterial capillary forming plexus
(primary portal plexus). The releasing
hormones are transferred to the
secondary portal plexus in the anterior
lobe of the pituitary where the releasing
hormones cause pituitary cells to release
other hormones.
Hypothalamus - Pituitary interrelationships
 MECHANISM CONTROLLING SECRETION

• Negative feedback: inhibits GnRH neurons.

• Positive feedback: activates the GnRH neurons
in the hypothalamus.
 HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES
OXYTOCIN
• Synthesized in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of
the hypothalamus and stored and released from posterior
pituitary.
• Also produced by the corpus luteum of cow, ewe and
human.
Functions of oxytocin
Oxytocin in Greek means 'rapid birth'
 Functions of oxytocin
• Causes contraction of oviduct and thus
involved in transport of male and female
gametes in oviduct.
• Estrogen enhances responsiveness of
smooth muscle to oxytocin.
• Causes milk let down.
• Ovarian oxytocin is involved in luteal
function by acting on the endometrium
of the uterus to induce PGF2 alpha
release which causes lysis of CL.
 GONADOTROPHIC RELEASING HORMONE

Functions
• Controls the release of FSH and LH
 PITUITARY GONADOTROPHIC HORMONES

• The anterior pituitary gland secretes three

glycoprotein hormones :
• (FSH),(LH) & PROLACTIN
 FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE
• Half life of 2.0–2.5 h.
Functions
• Stimulates growth and maturation of the graafian follicle in
the ovary.
• FSH along with LH causes estrogen production from the ovary
and testes.
 LUTEINISING HORMONE
• Half life of 30 minutes.
Functions
• Tonic or basal levels of LH act in conjunction with FSH to
induce estrogen secretion from the large graafian follicle.
• Preovulatory LH surge causes rupture of follicle and ovulation.
• LH is the major luteotrophic substance (maintains activity of
corpus luteum).
• Stimulates interstitial cells (Leydig cells) in male to produce
androgens.
 PROLACTIN
Functions
• Prolactin initiates and maintains lactation.
• It is considered as a gonadotropic hormone because
of its leutrotropic properties in bitches and rodents.
However in domestic animals, LH is the major
luteotropic hormone.
• Prolactin may mediate the seasonal and lactational
effects on reproduction in farm animals.
 GONADAL HORMONES

Primarily secreted by ovary and testes. The

adrenals and placenta are other sources.
They are of 4 types
• ANDROGENS
• ESTROGEN
• PROGESTERONE
• RELAXIN
 ESTROGEN

Functions of estrogen
• Growth and development of the reproductive organs.
• Growth of the uterine muscle and development of the
endometrial lining of the uterus
• increase the vascularity of the uterus
• Induction of behavioral estrus
• Dilation of the cervix
• Under the influence of the estrogens the uterus is less
susceptible to infection
• They produce contractions of the uterus
• They enhance the effects of oxytocin on uterine motility
• The estrogens inhibit the secretion of FSH and LH via a
negative feedback mechanism
• They are required for the development of the secondary sex
characteristics of the female including hair growth, deposition
of body fat, mammary gland development, plumage, etc.
 PROGESTERONE
FUNCTION
• growth of the glandular system of the endometrium of
the uterus, and the secretions of uterine milk.
• Maintenance of pregnancy (and pseudopregnancy)
• Growth of the alveolar system of the mammary gland.
• Inhibits the smooth muscle activity of the uterus -
renders it less sensitive to oxytocin.
• Target tissues are relatively insensitive to progesterone
unless primed by estrogen - At low levels progesterone
acts with estrogen to stimulate ovulation by
promoting LH release.
• At high levels progesterone inhibits the secretion of
FSH and LH via a negative feedback.
• It increases the efficiency of nutrient utilization.
 RELAXIN
• The main biological action of relaxin is
• Dilatation of cervix and vagina before parturition.
• It also inhibits uterine contractions
• Causes increased growth of the mammary gland if given in
conjunction with estradiol.
• In the Guinea pig, relaxin causes seperation of the pubic
symphysis bone within 6 hrs after injection. Seperation of
pubic symphysis normally occurs during parturition in this
species.
 PROSTAGLANDINS

• synthesized in the body from arachadonic acid

• 8 major series according to chemical makeup: A, B, C, D, E, F,
G and H.
• Currently the only prostaglandin available commercially is
prostaglandin F2 Alpha (PGF2Alpha).
• Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) release is brought about by
the activation of endometrial oxytocin receptors.
• If the animal becomes pregnant, the early embryo through
ectoderm secretes the protein, bovine trophoblast interferon
which prevents PGF2α release, which is the signal for
maternal recognition of pregnancy.
MECHANISM OF ACTION
• Reduction in arterial blood supply by
vasoconstriction leading to luteolysis.
• Binding with specific binding receptor sites
developed on the plasma membrane of luteal
cells. Binding interferes or prevents PGF2 α
binding.
• PGF2α binding brings about intracellular
changes and affects steroidogenesis.
FUNCTIONS
PGE
• Stimulates contractions of the uterus,
• Dilatation of blood vessels and has no luteolytic
action.
PGF2α
• Stimulates contraction of the uterus,
• Aids in sperm transport in the male and female reproductive
tracts,
• Causes constriction of blood vessels,
• Has luteolytic properties by venous constriction,
• Helps in parturition and a parallel rise in the level of PGF2α
along with estrogen is observed. Primary effect of PGF2α is
the myometrial contraction which favours release of oxytocin.