Comparative Female Anatomy and Historical
Perspectives
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Comparative Female Anatomy
Ovarian differences
- Cow, sow, ewe, human
- cortex on outside
- ovulation over entire surface
- Mare
- inversion of cortex and medulla
- ovulation occurs only in the ovulation fossa
- has internal ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum
Uterine and cervical differences
- Uterus Type
- Duplex - opposum, mouse, rabbit
- two cervixes, no uterine body, one or two vaginas
- Bicornuate - cow, ewe, mare, sow, bitch, queen
- one cervix, uterine body, poor to good development of uterine
horns, one vagina
- Simplex - primate
- one cervix, uterine body, no uterine horns, one vagina
- Cervix
- Cow, ewe - cervix has annular rings, ewe has more obsticles
- Mare - longnitudinal folds
- Sow - interdigitating prominances, no fornix
Vulvar differences
- Labia majora - cow, ewe, sow, mare
- Labia majora and minora - human
Avian reproductive tract
- Ovary (hierachical follicular growth)
- Secondary sex organs (left side only, oviduct, magnum, isthmus,
shell gland, vagina, cloaca)
Historical Perspectives
Aristotle - Generation of Species
- Fetus arises from menstrual blood
- Seminal plasma initiates the conversion of menstrual blood
- Semen from all parts of body
The age of gross anatomy
- Fallopius (1562) - Describes the oviduct
- Coiter (1573) - Describes the corpus luteum
- Regnier de Graff (1672) - Describes the antral follicle (Grafian Follicle)
Development of the microscope
- van Leewenhoek (1677) - Develops the microscope - Describes spermatozoa
in semen
- Spallanzani (1780) - Sperm were the fertilizing agent in semen - Successful
artificial insemination of a dog
- Dumas (1825) - Proves sperm the fertilizing agent
Modern Reprod. Physiology
- Gonads produce steroid hormones
- Cyclicity in females
- Radioimmunoassay (RIA)
- Artificial Insemination
- Semen Cryopreservation
- Prostaglandin used to control estrous cycles
- Biotechnology
Approach to Applications
- Develop basic knowledge of how system works
- Investigate methods that can perturb the system
- Manipulate the system to improve reproduction
Enhancing Reproduction
- Small improvements have profound effects on production
- 3% improvement in birth rate results in an additional:
- 1 million beef calves/year
- 3.2 million pigs/year
- 3.7 million gallons of milk/year
Current Trends
- Continuing need to:
- improve reproduction
- understand how to apply new technology
Limiting Reproduction
- Humans
- Pets
- Insects
- Wildlife
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