STH2203 – LU6

Reproduction
and Breeding

STH2203
Animal
Physiology
LU6:
Reproduction and
Breeding
 STH2203 – LU6
Learning Reproduction and
outcomes breeding

At the end of the unit, students should be able to:

1. Explain the functions of male and female sex organ and
hormones
2. Explain the process of Gametogenesis
3. Discuss the mensturation and menstrual cycle,
fertilization, pregnancy, lactation, birth control
4. Reproduction adaptation in animals.

2
 STH2203 – LU6
Female reproductive Reproduction and
organs and functions in breeding
Mammal

• Ovary – produces ova and hormones

• Oviduct – transport of ovum
• Uterus – implantation and pregnancy
• Cervix –protects from external
disturbance
• Vagina – organ of copulation
• Vulva – external opening to reproductive
organs 3
 Types of Uterus
Duplex Uteri
Completely separate uterine horns each with their own cervical canal. Two cervices and one
vagina.
E.g. rabbits, rodents (e.g. mice, rats, and guinea pigs) marsupials (e.g. kangaroos; two
vaginas)

Bipartite Uteri
Two smaller uterine horns with relatively small uterine body with a single cervix. E.g.
ruminants (deers, moose), cats, horses, etc.

Bicornuate Uteri
The upper parts of the uterus (long uterine horns) remain separated, but the lower parts are
fused into a single structure (one cervix). E.g. dogs, pigs, elephants, whales, dolphins,
tarsiers, lemurs, lorises, etc.

Simplex Uteri
Complete fusion of the paramesonephric ducts forming a single uterine body with no uterine
horns. E.g. higher primates.

Most animals that lay eggs, such as birds and reptiles, including most ovoviviparous
species (embryos developed inside eggs remained in the mother’s body until it is ready to
hatch; e.g. frog), have an oviduct instead of a uterus.
 STH2203 – LU6
Reproductive Reproduction and
processes in female breeding

• Produce ova (Oogenesis)

• Release ova (Ovulation)
• Produce hormone (Steroidogenesis)
• Fertilization (union of sperm and ova)
• Implantation (attachment of embryo to
uterine wall)
• Pregnancy (fetal growth and
development)
• Parturition (giving birth) 6
 Average STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
Reproductive Cycles breeding

12 animals with the longest gestation period: 7

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/12-animals-with-the-longest-gestation-period/heres-to-mothers
8
 Estrus vs STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
Menstrual Cycle breeding
Estrus Menstrual
• Estrus cycle depicts • Menstrual cycle depicts
ovarian activity. uterine events in large
• Proestrus is period of apes and human.
follicular growth • Characterized by obvious
• Estrus is period of sexual bleeding.
receptivity
• Bleeding is a result of
• Metestrus is a period of
corpus luteum formation shedding of the
vascularised walls of the
• Diestrus is a period
when corpus luteum is uterus.
fully functional.

9
 Follicular STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
growth breeding
• During prenatal stage – oogonia (germ cells) undergo
mitosis and increase in number. At birth, the maximum
number of oogonia is 36,000 in mare to 120,000 in cow.
• Around the time of birth, the oogonia enters into the prophase
of the 1st meiotic division (they are called oocytes) and remain
in this resting phase until puberty.
• While in this resting phase they grow in size and became
known as primary follicles.
• As they grow they put on a layer of cells called granulosa
cells, these cells form a mucopolysaccharide layer called zona
pellucida around them. At this stage they are called
secondary follicle.
10
 Follicular STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
growth… breeding

• Once a follicle start to grow the final outcome is either

ovulation or atresia.
• Almost all follicle become atretic. Atresia involve loss
of antrum (cavity containing follicular fluid).
• A cow that cycles normally but does not become
pregnant will ovulate 260 follicles over a lifetime of
about 15 years.
• It take 60 days for a primary follicle to grow to
ovulatory size (13-16 mm in cow).
11
 STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
breeding

Major differences between male and

female germ cell production
• There is normal replenishing of male germ cell
in contrast to a continuing decrease in oocyte
production throughout the reproductive life of
female.
• Mitosis continue to greatly increase the number
of spermatozoa in male while mitosis ceases in
female after birth, with oogenesis involving the
development of limited number of preformed 12
germ cells.
 STH2203 – LU6
Major organs and their Reproduction and
function in Mammals breeding

• Testis: produces sperm (spermatogenesis)

and sex hormones (steroidogenesis)
• Accessory organs: produces fluids which
carries the sperm to the penis
• Ducts: store and carry sperm and seminal
fluids to penis
• Penis: deposit sperm into vagina
13
 Development of STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
testes breeding

• Mammals with abdominal testes include

elephant, anteaters, whales and dolphin.
• In bats, most rodents and some carnivores and
ungulates, testes only descend into the
scrotum during the breeding season
• In most domestic mammals, testes descend
into the scrotum during fetal or early postnatal
life. This helps to keep it cooler (by 4-7oC) than
core body temperature.
14
 STH2203 – LU6
Testis structure Reproduction and
breeding

• 90% of the volume of

testis is made up of
hundred of meters of
seminiferous tubules.
• 10% is made up of
connective tissue, blood
vessels and Leydig
cells (secretes
hormone).

15
 Functions of STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
testis breeding

• Testes has two main functions:

Spermatogenesis & Steroidogenesis. These
two functions are linked to each other.

• Testicular function is controlled by

hypothalamus through gonadotrophin releasing
hormones (GnRH) which changes the pattern of
secretion of pituitary hormones, luteinizing
hormone (LH) and follicular stimulating
hormone (FSH). 16
 STH2203 – LU6
Spermatogenesis Reproduction and
breeding
• It occurs in the
seminiferous tubules.
• The basement membrane
of this tubule contain
spermatogonia (sperm
mother cells).
– These divides into primary
(46n) and secondary (23n)
spermatocytes, and then
differentiates to spermatids
and finally spermatozoa.
– Spermatozoa of human is
50μm long but it is 200μm in
rats.
Sertoli cells are located inside as
part of a seminiferous tubule
Leydigcells
Leydig cellsare
are located
located in the
in the
interstitial space
interstitial space 17
 Spermatogenesis STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
(continue) breeding

• Once the spermatozoa are formed, they exist

free in the lumen.
• Seminiferous tubules also secretes large
quantities of testicular fluid into the lumen.
This fluid is important in the transport of sperm
out of the testis.
• Associated with spermatogonia are Sertoli
cells whose function is to support and sustain
the spermatogonia as they move from the
basement membrane to the lumen of the
tubule. For example, hormones reach
spermatogonia via Sertoli cells. 18
 Semen volume and STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
sperm concentration breeding

Ejaculate volume, Concentration,

Species range (ml) average (106/ml)
Boar 150-500 100
Buffalo 0.5-4.5 600
Bull 2-10 1000
Camel 4-12 400
Cat 0.02-0.12 1700
Deer 2-20 200
Dog 2-15 300
Goat 0.2- 2.5 3000
Human 2-6 80
Rabbit 0.4-6.0 150
Ram 0.7-2.0 3000
Stallion 30-300 120 19
 STH2203 – LU6
Hormonal control Reproduction and
breeding

• Induction of spermatogenesis during puberty requires

both FSH and LH.
• Action of LH is indirect through Leydig cells which
stimulates testosterone which in turn stimulate the
Sertoli cells.
• Action of FSH is direct since receptors for it are found
in both Sertoli cells and spermatogonia.
– Sertoli cells also produce inhibin in response to
FSH stimulation.
20
 STH2203 – LU6
Testosterone Reproduction and
breeding
• Elevated testosterone levels exert negative feedback
on sperm production.
• Abuse of anabolic steroid (injection of horses) is
associated with oligospermia (few spermatozoa in
semen), and hence male infertility.
• Development and maintenance of libido and general
body features associated with male (secondary sexual
characteristics).
– Myotropic effect = increase muscle mass
– Calcification of antlers of deer that shed horns on yearly
basis
21
 STH2203 – LU6
Steroidogenesis Reproduction and
breeding

• Leydig cells produces testosterone under the

stimulation by LH.
• High concentration of testosterone may be
important for maintaining the function of the
epidydimis.
• High concentration of testosterone inhibits LH
release from anterior pituitary gland by –ve
feedback mechanism.

22
 STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
Factors involve in breeding
reproduction and breeding

• Can you name THREE factors that are

involve in regulating animal reproduction
and breeding?

• What are the roles played by these factors in

animal reproduction and breeding?

23
 Hormonal control STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
of reproduction breeding
• Reproduction controlled by hypothalamus
through gonadotrophin releasing
hormones (GnRH) which changes the
pattern of secretion of pituitary hormones,
luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular
stimulating hormone (FSH).
• Anterior pituitary gland releases FSH and
LH.
• FSH stimulates follicle in the ovary to grow
and produces estrogen.
• LH stimulates corpus luteum to produce
progesterone.
• Both estrogen and progesterone
maintains the uterus and secondary sexual
characters and exert feedback control over
both hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
24
 Hormonal changes STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
during estrous cycle breeding

25
 Photoperiod & STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
breeding season breeding

• Pineal gland respond to • Melatonin determines the

changes in photoperiod onset of breeding season
(length of daylight) by in seasonal breeders such
increasing melatonin as sheep, goats, horses
secretion. and cats.
• Sheep and goats (“short • Melatonin implants have
day breeders) respond to been used to advance the
decrease photoperiod breeding season of sheep
while horses and cats and goats in Australia and
(“long day breeder”) NZ.
respond to increase
photoperiod.
26
 Other factors STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
affecting breeding breeding

• Social factors
– Communication between sexes occur via pheromones
(chemical signals) and vocalization (esp. in cats and
swine).
– Exposure of female to male abruptly during the
peripubertal period often hasten the onset of puberty.
This is referred to as the male effect.
– Female-female interaction facilitates sexual
development.
– Presence of male intensifies the signs of estrus. 27
 STH2203 – LU6
Other factors …. Reproduction and
breeding

• Nutrition
– Adequate nutrition is required for optimum
reproductive efficiency
– Inadequate nutrition leading to loss of body
condition delays onset of puberty and recycling.
• Temperature and humidity
– Hot and humid environment depresses reproduction
particularly in dairy cows and sows by decreasing
both estrous detection and conception.
28
 STH2203 – LU6
Other factors … Reproduction and
breeding
• Reproductive senescence
 End of ovarian activity in primates is known as menopause.
 In women, it cease because the ovaries are no longer
responsive to gonadotrophins. Therefore estrogen and
progesterone secretion is greatly diminished.
 In absence of –ve feedback from estrogen and
progesterone, pituitary gonadotrophin secretion increased.
 Hot flashes associated with menopause are the result of
greatly increased LH secretion.
 Menopause in women generally occurs after age of 50.
29
 STH2203 – LU6
Male infertility Reproduction and
breeding

• Low sperm count may be due to

– decreased gonadotrophin (FSH, LH)
stimulation
– blockages in the rete testis, epidydimis or
vas deferens
• If blood hormone level is normal but
sperm count is low, then it is due to
blockages.
30
 STH2203 – LU6
Impotency Reproduction and
breeding

• Impotency (erectile dysfunction) is a condition

whereby a penis fails to become erect.
• Causes
– Physical damage: reduced blood flow and nerve
damage
– health and medication: related to diabetes,
multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease
– psychological problem: stress, depression,
anxiety.

31
 Reproductive STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
adaptation breeding

• Animals live in different habitats have

developed different reproductive
adaptations to assure the continuity of life.

• Do you know any of these adaptations?

• Do you know think marine fish and fresh

water fish have the same reproductive
adaptation? How and Why? 32
 Fish Reproduction
Bisexuality or gonochorism
Most common mode of reproduction.

Hermaphroditism
Hermaphrodite = an organism that has reproductive organs normally
associated with both male and female sexes.
In synchronous hermaphroditism, the left gonad is the ovary and
the right one is the testis, or vice versa, or ovotestis.
In asynchronous hermaphroditism, the fist start functionally as one
sex and then switch to another. Examples:
Born male and later change to female (clownfish);
Born female and later change to male (many wrasses or gobies)

Unisexuality or parthenogenesis
Rare; found in some live-bearers (only females).
Development of young is without fertilization and female produce
only female offspring.
Sharks and rays have internal
fertilization and produce small
numbers of large, yolky eggs.
Some retain the developing
embryos in the parent and give
birth to miniature copies of the
adults. Others lay the eggs in
elaborate egg cases where
embryonic development occurs.

In male sharks, the pelvic fins

are modified into stout, tube-like
copulatory organs known as
claspers, which are inserted into
the female during copulation to
transfer sperm.
Freshwater fish:
 demersal eggs [60-70% water content; high in protein)
 a long incubation period (50 – 100 days depending on water temperature)
 Small number of eggs spawn (only a few thousands of large eggs per
female)
 larger and less vulnerable larvae

Marine fish:
 buoyant or pelagic eggs [high (~90%) water content]
 a short incubation period (usually within a week)
 Large number of eggs spawn (more than 1 million of small eggs per
female)
 vulnerable larvae

Few marine fish species (e.g. smelts, herring, etc.; fishes that live on the
Arctic and Antarctic Shelves such as Greenland cod, Arctic flounder, etc.)
spawn demersal eggs, large yolk and long incubation periods. Why?
 To protect eggs against the risk of freezing/the low salinity of the surface
water during the melting of ice.
Reproductive adaptation STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
for marine animals breeding
• Use both asexual and sexual modes of reproduction.
• But asexual reproduction being more abundant.
WHY?
• Majority of marine animal have simple uniflagellate
sperm and relatively small buoyant eggs
• Large number of invertebrates are hermaphrodite.
WHY?
• Some have an “ovotestis” that produces both male
and female gametes at the same time or sequentially.
• Direct sex change have been seen in pandalid
shrimps, and clown or anemone fish. 36
Reproductive adaptation STH2203 – LU6
Reproduction and
for fresh water animals breeding

• Very short life cycles

• Rapid turnover of generations
• Reduce larval forms
• More direct development involving larger and yolkier
eggs (molluscs) or brood pouches
(crustacean water flea)
• Unusually large (if larvae persist)
• Protected surface (chitinous covering)
• Direct insemination ( save the sperms)
• Protective “dormant” stage other than shelled eggs
37
38
39
40
41