Week 1

• Male Reproductive Tract


  • Scrotum
  • Testis
  • Epididymis
  • Ductus (vas) deferens
  • Accessory sex glands
  • Penis
• Scrotum


  Cools testes so sperm doesn't denature
• Testis


  Produce sperm and sex hormones (testosterone)
• Epididymis


  Mature and store sperm
• Ductus (vas) deferens


  Transport sperm
• Accessory sex glands


  Produce seminal plasma
• Penis


  Copulatory organ
• Position of Testes


  • Scrotal (primates, domestic mammals)
  • Extrascrotally (birds, marine mammals, elephant)
• Female Reproductive Tract


  • Ovary
  • Uterine tube (oviduct)
  • Uterus
  • Cervix
  • Vagina and vestibule
• Ovary


  Produce oocytes and sex hormones
• Uterine tube (oviduct)


  Transports the oocyte
• Uterus


  Supports development of the embryo and fetus
• Cervix


  Protects uterine environment
• Vagina and vestibule


  Copulatory organ, expels the fetus
• Hormones of Reproduction


  • Gonadotrophins (FSH, LH)
  • Steroid hormones (Oestrogens, Progesterone, Testosterone)
• Gonadotrophins


  Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; follicle growth), Luteinizing hormone (LH; ovulation)
• Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH)


  Released by hypothalamus, controls gonadotrophins
• Ovarian Follicular Growth


  • Primordial follicles
  • Primary follicles
  • Secondary follicles
  • Tertiary (antral) follicles
• Testicular Structure


  • Seminiferous tubule lumen
  • Sertoli cells
  • Developing germ cells
  • Blood vessels
  • Connective tissue
  • Lymphatics
  • Leydig cells
• The Sperm Journey


  1. Sertoli cells

  2. Seminiferous tubules

  3. Rete tubules

  4. Efferent ducts

  5. Epididymis

  6. Ductus deferens

  7. Pelvic urethra

  8. Penile urethra
• Embryo signals presence to mother to initiate pregnancy recognition
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure in female system during gestation
• Parturition


  1. Fetus signals readiness

  2. Placental secretions change from P4 to E2

  3. Prostaglandin F2α secretion increases

  4. Oxytocin levels increase

  5. Labour induced

  6. Fetus turns into neonate and detaches from umbilical cord

  7. Fetus expelled
• No need for high levels of progesterone after parturition, so it will convert into oestrogen to assist in expulsion of fetus
• Reproduction


  The natural process among organisms by which new individuals are generated and the species perpetuated
• Phases of Animal life

  • Vegetative - animal grows or maintains itself
  • Reproductive - animal engages in activity designed to replicate itself
• Strategies of reproduction


  • R type species - Small body size, Short lifespan, Short gestation, Large litter, Rapid rate of development, Short birth interval, Variable pop n size
  • K type species - Large body size, Long lifespan, Long gestation, Single offspring, Slow rate of development, Long birth interval, Stable pop n size
• Some animals like pigs, don't necessarily fit into either R or K type category (a spectrum)
• Methods of transition from vegetative to reproductive lifestyle

  • Incorporation - Reproductive habits incorporated into vegetative lifestyle phase
  • Separation - Complete separation of vegetative and reproductive lifestyle phases
  • Alternation - Switches between vegetative and reproductive lifestyle phases
• Methods of gamete transfer

  • Spermatophore - Males produce packaged sperm for female use
  • Quasi copulation - No female penetration but an attempt at close deposition
  • True Copulation - Deposition of sperm into the female tract
• Copulation


  • Duration usually short especially in prey animals
  • Frequency depends on species, individual, availability of females, health and stamina
  • Longer times for copulation increase chance of paternity from the male
• Reproductive strategies


  • Monogamy - Paired stable mating
  • Promiscuity - Indiscriminate mating within a group
  • Polygamy - Individual has more than one mate
  • Polyandry - Female has many males
  • Polygyny - Male has many females
• Monogamy


  Paired stable mating
• Advantages and disadvantages of monogamy
• Puberty


  The period or age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction of offspring
• Seasonality


  The state or quality of being seasonal or dependent on the seasons
• Senescence


  Growing old; aging
• Reproduction


  1. Courtship

  2. Copulation

  3. Gestation

  4. Parturition

  5. Offspring rearing

  6. Puberty and adolescence
• Maintenance of a population involves both vegetative and reproductive phases
• Must not neglect vegetative phase in reproductive management