REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT OF MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS

RUDIMENT MALE ORGAN FEMALE ORGAN

1. GONADS
CORTEX REGRESSES OVARY
MEDULLA TESTES REGRESSES

2. MULLERIAN DUCTS VESTIGES UTERUS,

(PROSTATES) OVIDUCTS,
PARTS OF VAGINA
GONADODUCTAL SYSTEM

3. WOLFFIAN DUCTS EPIDIDYMIS, VESTIGES

VAS DEFERANS

4. UROGENITAL SINUS URETHRA PARTS OF VAGINA

PROSTATE URETHRA
BU GLANDS

5. GENITAL TUBERCLE PENIS CLITORIS

(PHALLUS) (VESTIGE)

6. VESTIBULAR FOLDS SCROTUM VULVA

In males, - testicular androgen plays role in persistence of development of Wolffian ducts and
atrophy of Mullerian ducts.

In female, - Growth of Mullerian ducts, beyond ambisexual stage is appearently hormonally

independent and duct is capable of autonomous growth, coiling and epithelial differentiation.
 FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Consists of –
- female gonad (ovaries)
- fallopian tubes (oviducts)
- uterus
- cervix
- vagina
- vulva

OVARIES

Small, paired organ having dual functions i.e gametogenic as well as endocrine.
Located in the abdominal cavity.
In cow, they are near the middle of lateral margin of pelvic inlet, in front of external iliac
artery. Thus they are intrapelvic in cow.
The shape and size varies from species to species and also depends upon the stage of
reproduction (oestrous).
- In polytocous animals – dog, cat, pigs – several follicles develop, giving ovaries an
appearance of a bunch of grapes.
- In monotocous animals – cow, mare, sheep, goats – the ovary is ovoid shaped and
when functioning, it takes a distorted shape.
- In horse, the ovary has an ovarian fossa and hence appears kidney shaped.

In cow and ewe it is almond shaped. 4 cm long, 1.25 cm wide and weighs 7 – 15 gms.
In dog and cat, it is oval shaped.

The right ovary is always larger than the left one.

The size increases 4 – 7 times by the age of puberty.

HISTOLOGY OF OVARY

Histologically, ovary has two parts – cortex and medulla.

Cortex is the outer part and is formed of follicles.

Medulla consists of irregularly arranged fibroblastic cells (connective tissue) with nerves, blood
vessels, reticular fibres, smooth muscles and lymphatics.
The arteries are called ‘helicine’ due to extensive coiling.
The cortex is the site of oogenesis and endocrine secretion. It is covered with a specified
epithelium called as germinal epithelium.
Germinal epithelium is a single layer of cuboidal or low columnar cells (discontinued in the
ovarian fossa in mare).

Underlying the germinal epithelium is ‘tunica albuginea’ – which consists of parallel bundles
of fibroblasts.
The germinal cells grow into follicles, which depending upon their phase of maturity are
grouped as –
- primary / primordial follicles
- growing follicles
- graafian follicles / mature and
- atretic / regressing follicles.

PRIMORDIAL FOLLICLES

Are single layered follicles, enclosing one or two oocytes.

They show no signs of growth.
No thecal cells are seen.
Oocyte is 20 – 30 μ in diameter.
In large number – in young age.
This stage is a resting phase of many years.
Some follicles develop beyond this stage.

GROWING FOLLICLES

An intermediate stage.
No thecal cells. No antrum. Found in two stages.
1. primary growing follicles – having single layer of epithelium and oocyte 40 – 60 μ.
2. secondary growing follicles – having two or more epithelial layers and oocyte 40 – 80
μ.
Mitotic activity of epithelium is persistent in this stage.

Zona pellucida grows distinctly around the oocyte.

Follicle is separated from stroma / medulla and moves towards central part of ovary.
At puberty, about 200 such growing follicles are seen.

GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE

Mature, large sized follicle.

Thecal layers and antrum develop.
Thecal layers are – theca externa and theca interna.

Following it is the layer of follicular cells called as ‘membrana granulosa’ – which surrounds
the cavity called as ‘antrum’.

Antrum is filled with a liquid – liquor folliculi – which contains proteins and oestrogens.

In graafian follicle, mitotic activity is progressive.

At one end of the antrum, an outgrowth is developed called as – ‘cumulus oophorus’ or ‘discus
proligerus’ – which actually contains the ‘mature’ ovum.

The ovum is surrounded by ‘vitelline’ and ‘perivitelline’ spaces and zona pellucida.
The diameter of graafian follicles varies from species to species.

Size of graafian follicle in various species –

Mare – 25 – 70 mm
Cow – 12 – 19 mm
Sow – 8 – 12 mm
Buffaloe – 5 – 10 mm
Ewe – 5 – 10 mm
Dog / cat – 2 mm

Normally, only one follicle develops in one oestrous cycle – particularly, in case of
monotocous species (cow, buffaloe and mare).

In sow, about 10 – 25 are developed and in sheep 1 – 3 in number.

In all species, other growing follicles regress and become ‘atretic’.

The graafian follicle protrudes over the surface of ovary as a button shaped outgrowth.

The oocyte diameter increases to 80 – 120 μ.

It is surrounded by zona pellucida.

ATRETIC FOLLICLES

Degenerating, regressing, luteinising, anovular follicles are called atretic follicles.

FELLOPIAN TUBES

Called as uterine tubes or oviducts or salpinx.

Divided into infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus.

18 – 25 cm long in cattle.

Infundibulum at its end has fimbriae. It is a funnel shaped structure, dialated over and in
apposition with ovary. It is free at all ends but only at dorsal pole of ovary.

Its opening at the center is called as – ‘ostium tubae abdominale’.

Ampulla is the middle portion – site of fertilization.

Isthmus opens into uterus by opening called as – ‘ostium tubae uterinae’.

Histologically, it has three layers – outer serosa, middle muscularis and innermost mucosa.

Mucous membrane is thrown in many folds – which are more numerous in ampulla than
isthmus. Ciliated epithelium is present in it. The cilia move towards uterine end.

Fimbriae – consist of erectile tissue, muscle fibres and blood vessels. Blood filled in the erectile
tissue tumifies fimbriae at the time of ovulation.

FUNCTIONS

Oviducts function for –

- capacitation of sperms
- fertilization and
- early cleavage of embryo.

The size of oviduct varies in species –

Cow - 18 – 25 cm
Buffaloe and mare - 20 – 30 cm
Ewes, goats - 18 – 20 cm
Bitch - 5 –7 cm

UTERUS

Hollow, elongated, musculomembranous sac.

Consists of two cornua, corpus uteri and cervix.
In cow, bicornuate,
In sow, bicornuate (body is short)
In rabbit, rats – bipartite (two cervices)
Cornua are well developed.

Histologically, uterus is formed of –

Outer serosa, (peritoneum)
Middle smooth muscle (myometrium)
Inner mucosa (endometrium)

(the two horns of bipartite uterus are separated by a thick septum and body is strong,
prominent).

Myometrium has three layers of smooth muscle – circular, longitudinal and oblique.

Endometrium has an epithelial lining, glandular layer and connective tissue.

In ruminants, caruncles are present. These are the mushroomlike nonglandular projections in
the interior – which are arranged in four rows.

Uterine glands are present in intercaruncular spaces. Caruncles do not have glands.
In general, 70 – 120 caruncles are present.
In mare, uterus is T shaped / cruciform – as the horns are perpendicular to the body of uterus.
Uterine glands provide nourishment to zygote – before implantation.

Uterus shows slow, feeble and irregular contractions during diestrus – whereas, during estrus,
they are rhythmic, peristaltic, wavy.

After ovulation, the uterus is quiescent.

FUNCTIONS OF UTERUS

1. SPERM TRANSPORT : from the site of ejaculation to the site of fertilisation – by

myometrical contractions.
2. LUTEOLYTIC MECHANISMS : by local utero-ovarian cycle. Corpus luteum
stimulates uterus to produce a substance essential for regression of CL.
3. IMPLANTATION AND GESTATION:
4. PARTURITION

CERVIX :

Constricted, compact, sphincter-like structure.

Fibrous organ, composed of connective tissue.
Thick wall and constricted lumen.
Projects into vagina – with an opening called as – ‘os uteri externum’.

Mucosa of cervix has many folds / annular rings – in the form of transverse or spirally
interlocking ridges.

In cow and ewe they are well developed 4 annular rings.

In sow, these rings form a corkscrew-like arrangement, adapted to spiral twisting end boar’s
penis.
In mare, conspicuous folds projecting into vagina ar epresent in cervix.

It is tightly closed except during estrus and parturition.

During pregnancy, increases in size, mass and hardness.
Internal secretory surface us large and much more mucus is secreted from it.

Specific composition of cervical mucus during various reproductive stages – is observed under
the influence of various hormones.
It is characterized by ferning, elasticity, viscosity, thixotrophic tac (stickiness).
During estrus, on drying over a slide, the mucus shows fern pattern, accompanied with high
chloride content. It is not observed under progesterone effect.

FUNCTIONS OF CERVIX

1. Sperm transport facilitation.

2. Sperm reservoir.
3. Selection of viable sperms.
4. Barrier against ascending type of infections. (cervical glands in mucosa called ‘ovula
nabothi’ secrete thick mucus, which acts as seal / plug during gestation.)

VAGINA :

Passageway for fetus outwardly in parturition and sperms inwardly during ejaculation.
Musculomembranous in nature.
Mucosa, submucosa and tunica muscularis are the three layers present.
Smooth mucous membrane, pink coloured, transverse folds.
Vaginal mucosa is glandular in cow only.

Vaginal smears may be useful in judgement of phase oestrous cycle with limited success.

Vaginal fluid is a mixture of transudates through vaginal wall, vulval secretions from sebaceous
and sweat glands, uterine and cervical secretions, endometrial and oviducal fluids.

FUNCTIONS:

Copulatory organ
Passageway for fetus and sperms / semen.

HYMEN :
A transverse fold of anterior portion of vagina, situated in front of meatus urinarius between
vulva and vagina. It is expanded at the time of first copulation and then is lost.

VULVA :

The external genitalia consisting of labia majora and labia minora and clitoris – alongwith
vestibule.
Vestibule is a small canal extending from vagina outwards. In it open, two Gartner’s ducts,
which are the remnants of Wolffian ducts.

Glands of Bartholin are also present, which secrete during estrus. (homologous to bulbourethral
glands in male).
5 – 7 cm below anus.

Not conspicuously separated from vagina.

Opens out as a slit guarded by two labia.

Labia – soft, thick, normally wrinkled but become thicker and turgid during estrus.

They are provided with several circular muscles, which keep them in apposition.
Externally, they are covered with smooth pigmented skin with fine and scanty hair.
They are supplied with sweat and sebaceous glands.

Internally, they are covered with pink, moist, smooth mucous membrane.

The labia guard upper and lower commissures.

At the low commissure is present a fossa clitoridis, in which a homologue of glans penis –
clitoris is present.

Clitoris is made up of cavernous tissue and supplied by abundant nerves, hence much sensitive.

ASSIGNMENTS

Table 8.3 homologies of male and female reproductive systems

Fig. 9.1 Sites of measurements and comparisons of temperatures…
Table 9.1 Levels of testesterone in the systemic blood
Fig.9.6 Reproductive systems of male cat, the dog….etc.
Table 9.3 Accessory sex glands in domestic species
Table 9.4 Composition of semen
Table 9.5 Relationship between type of penis and volume of ejaculate
Fig. 10.1 Lateral view of genital organs and adjacent structures of mare
Fig. 10.3 Anatomical relationship between ovary and uterine tube in the ewe.
Fig. 10.4 Schematic diagram of ovary showing the sequence of events in origin….
Fig. 10.15 Graaffian follicle
Fig. 10.16 Comparative schematic anatomy of uteri of several domestic species
Fig.10.28 PGF2α has an hydroxyl group at C9….
Fig.10.33 The structure of some steroid hormones
OVOGENESIS / OOGENESIS

As in spermatogenesis, the oogenesis starts from the primordial germ cells in female – which
develop into oogonia.

Oogonia undergo many mitotic divisions and primary oocytes are formed – the last phase of
conversion into primary oocyte being meiotic.

The formation of primary oocyte is completed even before or shortly after the birth.

Primary oocyte has –

ooplasm / vitellus – cytoplasm and
a nucleus / germinal vesicle and is covered by follicular epithelium.

Follicular epithelial cells develop into follicles.

Nucleus in primary oocyte is dormant / resting / dictyate – upto the development of follicle to
preovulatory stage.

Further changes in oocyte and nucleus, after preovulatory stage are dependent on LH secretion.
The follicular cells proliferate and develop into ‘membrana granulosa’.

Normally, only one oocyte is found in a follicle except in fetal ovaries and new born bitches.

The cell membrane of the oocyte is called as ‘ vitelline membrane’ – to which follicular cells
are closely attached.

On development of follicle, ‘zona pellucida’ is formed between vitelline membrane and inner
granulose cells / corona radiata.

Cells of corona radiata and oocyte plasma membrane send processes to follicular cells /
granulose cells – thus nourishing the oocyte.

Also, during development of follicles, lacunae develop and extend more and more to develop
into antrum – into which projects a mass of granulose cells with oocyte – and form – cumulous
oophorus.

When development of follicle stops, another meiotic or maturation divisions occur.

Nucleus migrates towards plasma membrane , nucleoli disappear, nuclear membrane disappears
and chromosomes divide.

1st polar body is formed by extrusion of half the chromatin and a small amount of cytoplasm.
The first meiosis occurs at different phases in various species – mostly it is completed few
hours before ovulation – in this secondary oocyte is formed.
 However, in dogs and horses, but it occurs after ovulation.
In dogs, it is delayed (7 days) hence, longer viability of oocytes in oviduct.

Secondary oocyte undergoes 2nd meiosis (sometimes on stimulation by sperm) – before

fertilization.
2nd polar body is formed.

Ootid is formed. The 1st polar body divides into two.

The unfertilized ovum degenerates or undergoes fragmentation in uterus.

Fig. 7.10 (Hafez) developmental events