Feline Reproductive Physiology Click and wait for everything to happen.

Anatomy Brain Hypothalamus Anterior pituitary Uterine horns Ovaries Cervix Vagina/ vestibule Uterine body

Spontaneous Ovulators Generic Physiology of Spontaneous Ovulators

Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus Estrogen FSH Proestrus GnRH FSH

Spontaneous ovulation - Diestrus Estrogen LH Corpus luteum Ovulation GnRH LH Corpus luteum Ovulation LH Progesterone

Proestrus Estrus Diestrus/Pregnancy Interestrus

Generic Physiology of Induced Ovulators

Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus Estrogen FSH Proestrus GnRH FSH

Induced ovulation - Diestrus GnRH Ovulation Corpus luteum Progesterone LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH Corpus luteum LH LH LH LH Progesterone Vaginal stimulation

Physiology of the Queen as an Induced ovulator

Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus Estrogen FSH Proestrus GnRH FSH

Feline without induced ovulation No neural response Follicular atresia Ooocyte degeneration No vaginal stimulation

Interestrus - 1-10 days Inactive ovaries

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus No Ovulation Interestrus

Insufficient vaginal stimulation results in insufficient LH to cause ovulation and results in the queen entering: Anestrus or interestus

Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus Estrogen FSH Proestrus GnRH FSH

Feline insufficient vaginal stimulation Inadequate GnRH LH Follicular atresia LH LH LH Inadequate or short-lived LH Ooocyte degeneration Insufficient LH release and binding Insufficient vaginal stimulation Vaginal stimulation

Interestrus - 1-10 days Inactive ovaries

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus No Ovulation Interestrus

Sufficient vaginal stimulation Results in queen entering LH Ovulation Diestrus or pseudopregnancy Corpus luteum Progesterone

Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus Estrogen FSH Proestrus GnRH FSH

Induced ovulation - Diestrus GnRH Ovulation Corpus luteum Progesterone LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH After day 3 estrus > 2 hours apart LH Corpus luteum LH LH LH LH Vaginal stimulation Progesterone Vaginal stimulation Vaginal stimulation

Diestrus or Pseudopregnancy 40 Day Duration (not like dog) Corpus luteum Progesterone

Diestrus or Pseudopregnancy After 40 days have luteal degeneration Corpus luteum Progesterone Go into anestrus or interestrus

Interestrus - 10-14 days Inactive ovaries

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen 10-14 days Pro/Estrus Interestrus Ovulation Diestrus 40 days

Induced ovulation - Pregnancy GnRH Ovulation Corpus luteum LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH After day 3 estrus > 2 hours apart LH Corpus luteum LH LH LH LH Breeding Progesterone Breeding Breedihng

Pregnancy 65 Day Duration Fertilization in the oviducts Oocytes enter oviducts 4- 5 days post breeding Fertilization in the oviducts Ova spread throughout uterus in 6 - 8 days Sperm cells are moved to oviducts 65 Day Duration

Anestrus - 14 - 40 days Inactive ovaries

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus Interestrus Ovulation/Fertilization Pregnancy

Seasonality of estrous cycles No Cycles Cycles

Seasonality of estrous cycles 8 hours light Fall, Winter No Cycles

Anestrus Inactive ovaries

Seasonality of estrous cycles 12 hours light Spring, Summer, Cycles

Seasonality of estrous cycles 12 hours light Anytime - Artificial light Cycles

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus No Ovulation Interestrus 12 hours light Seasonal Anestrus 8 hours light

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus Interestrus 12 hours light Ovulation Diestrus Seasonal Anestrus 8 hours light

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus Interestrus 12 hours light Ovulation/Fertilization Pregnancy Seasonal Anestrus 8 hours light

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus Interestrus 12 hours light Ovulation/Fertilization Pregnancy Seasonal Anestrus 8 hours light

Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus No Ovulation Interestrus 12 hours light Ovulation Ovulation/Fertilization Diestrus Pregnancy Seasonal Anestrus 8 hours light

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