Female Repro

Question 1

Oestrus Cycle:

Answer 1

(Pro-oestrus)/Oestrus (heat): behaviour – sexual receptivity.

Dioestrus: behaviour – sexually quiescent
* Gestation period 61-63 days after ovulation,
58-72d from first mating.

Anoestrus: interruption of cycle – pregnancy, lactation, non-breeding period, disease, stress.

Question 2

Bitch Oestrus Cycle:

Answer 2

Cycle = 2.5mths
Oestrus = 9-10d PO, 9-10d O
Ovulation = 2-3d after LH surge
Monoestrous

Question 3

Queen Oestrus Cycle

Answer 3

Cycle = 17-20d
Oestrus 2-6d
Induced ovulation
Seasonal Polyoestrus

Question 4

HPG Axis

Answer 4

Hypothalamus -> GnRH
-> Anterior pituitary gland
-> FSH -> Follicle -> oestrogen
-> LH -> Follicle & CL -> P4

Question 5

Follicle Development:

Answer 5

1. LH stims theca cells
2. Theca cells produce androgens (precursor
   to oestrogen)
3. FSH binds to granulosa cells, stims
   androgen -> oestrogen
4. Oestrogen released from granulosa cells
5. Oestrogen = uterine changes/ further
   follicular dev/ LH receptor expression in
   granulosa cells
6. LH stims granulosa lutein cells
7. Growing follicles luteinises before ovulation
8. Lutein cells produce P4 -> oestrogen 
9. Oestrogen falls = stims LH surge -
   ovulation, CL forms, prolonged P4
   production

Question 6

Bitch Fertile Period

Answer 6

• ~11-12d – mating can become pregnancy
• ~5d pre & 5d post ovulation
• Oocytes immature when released – mature 2d post ovulation & viable for ~4-6d
• Canine sperm viable ~7d

Question 7

Bitch Fertilisation Period

Answer 7

• ~4d – oocytes available to be fertilised
• Shorter
• Oocytes mature & ready for fertilisation 2d post ovulation
• Viable for ~4-6d

Question 8

Infertility:
- Caused by:

Answer 8

• No oestrus
• Abnormal cycle
• Fails to mate
• Fails to sustain pregnancy
• Pregnant but small no.

Question 9

Normal Rates for Bitches:
- Ovulation
- Conception
- Whelping

Answer 9

• Ovulation: 97-100%
• Conception: 8-92% (~70%)
• Whelping: 86%-100%

Question 10

Vaginal Cytology - Cells
PISA

Answer 10

Parabasal
Intermediate
Superficial
Anuclear

Question 11

Pro-oestrus Cells

Answer 11

• Intermediate cells
• Large irregular superficial nucleated cells
• RBC

Question 12

Oestrus Cells

Answer 12

• Large anuclear cornified cells
• RBC decreased

Question 13

Dioestrus Cells

Answer 13

• Small intermediate & parabasal cells
• Neutrophil influx

Question 14

Lab - Plasma Hormones:

Answer 14

Luteinising hormone (LH)
o Increased plasma LH accurate for
ovulation time
o V expensive & often delayed

Oestrogen – not helpful

Progesterone (P4)
o Predicts impending ovulation
o Confirm ovulation
o ID luteal phase
o Predicts whelping

Relaxin
o Confirms placental tissue present from 25d
onwards
o Dogs & cats

Question 15

Imaging - Ultrasound:

Answer 15

Ovarian/uterine path
o Cysts, pyometra

Pregnancy diagnosis – GOLD STANDARD
o B mode = foetal sacs 17d
o Doppler = foetal cardiac & umbilical blood
flow (HB from 25d)

Adv:
o No sedation
o Not painful
o Owner present
o Foetal viability & size assessed

Question 16

Radiography:

Answer 16

Pregnancy diagnosis
o +ve pregnancy diagnosis = detect foetal calcification – 42ds on

Ionising radiation = concern in early pregnancy, unlikely to harm by 5th wk

Lateral = easier to interpret

Question 17

Vaginoscopy:
Anoestrus
Pro-oestrus
Early Oestrus
Oestrus
Early met-oestrus/ dioestrus

Answer 17

Anoestrus - muscosa v thin, visible capillaries

Pro-oestrus - oedematous pink folds

Early Oestrus - oedematous phase reduces - paler

Oestrus - shrinkage, folds cream/white

Early met-oestrus/ dioestrus - mucosal folds rounded with pale patches

Question 18

Oestrus Absence:
What:

Answer 18

Delayed puberty
Silent heats
Abnormal XX chromosomes
Ovarian agenesis

Question 19

Oestrus Absence:
Lab Tests & Imaging

Answer 19

Increase FSH & LH,
Decrease AMH,
GnRH/ hCG admin doesn’t increase oestrogen

Laparotomy/ laparoscopy

Question 20

Oestrus Absence:
Treatment

Answer 20

PMSG & chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)
PMSG SID for 10d, HCG injection
Cabergoline
SID until 2d after PO onset

Question 21

Prolonged Oestrus Cycle:

Answer 21

Prolonged proestrus/ oestrus
Normal = 18-20d
>30d – consider US
o Follicular cysts
o Neoplasia

Prolonged dioestrus – luteal phase
- Luteal cysts – rare
PG persistently increased

P4-producing ovarian neoplasia

Question 22

Abnormal Anoestrus:

Answer 22

Prolonged anoestrus
o Missed/ silent heat
o Illness, endocrinopathies

Diagnosis
o Exam – ID underlying dx
o Vaginal cytology – check stage of cycle
o P4 assays (increase = oestrus in last 2mths)

Tx:
o Correct underlying problem
o Induce oestrus – PMSG, hCG, cabergoline

Question 23

Cysts

Answer 23

Follicular = increased oestrogen
- Persistent oestrus signs

Luteal = increased progesterone
- Cystic mammary hyperplasia, CEH,
fibroleiomyoma

Diagnose:
- US,
- vaginal cytology,
- serum oestrogen conc

Tx follicular:
- GnRH/ hCG (ovulation),
- PG (regression),
- OVH/ OVE

Tx luteal:
- prostaglandins,
- prolactin inhibitors (cabergoline)

Manual rupture via coeliotomy/ laparoscopy

Question 24

Shortened Oestrus Cycle:

Answer 24

Short proestrus/oestrus
o Puberty
o Split oestrus
o Ovulation failure

Follicle fails to mature -> no ovulation -> no luteal phase = early return to proestrus

Tx – admin hCG/ PMSG

Short dioestrus (luteal phase) = GSDs

Corpora lutea fails

Inadequate P4 = pregnancy failure

Question 25

Fails to Mate:

Answer 25

No tie False oestrus – bitch attractive to males but not in oestrus – vaginitis Non-compliance Anatomical abnormality o Hyperplasia o Neoplasia o Bands

Question 26

Neoplasia = Rare:

Answer 26

Granulosa cell tumours o Sex cord stroma tumours o Oestrogen-producing – oestrus signs, bone marrow toxicity, derm changes o P4-producing – mammary gland dev, CEH Epithelial – adenoma/ adenocarcinoma Germ cell – dysgerminoma, teratoma, teratocarcinoma Diagnose – US, rads to exclude mets Tx - OVH

Question 27

Vaginal Neoplasia:

Answer 27

Benign **– leiomyomas, fibroleiomyoma, fibroma, lipoma, polyps Clinical Signs o Dysuria, stranguria o Vaginal discharge o Faecal tenesmus o Bulging perineum/ vulva o Protruding mass Diagnosis – vaginal exam, FNA/ biopsy, imaging Tx = surgical resection +/- OVH

Question 28

Vaginal Hyperplasia

Answer 28

Vaginal wall hyperplasia = normal in response to increased oestrogens - Enlarges in proestrus, regresses in luteal phase - Exaggerated response - Mild-mass obstructing lumen Tx – conservative (regresses), prevent self-trauma

Question 29

Vaginal Prolapse

Answer 29

Brachys, Great Danes, Bull mastiffs From vaginal floor cranial to urethral opening -> vaginitis, cystitis, mating failure Low grade = resolve when oestrogen decreases Severe = need surgery

Question 30

Uterine Neoplasia

Answer 30

Rare Leiomyoma ** Clinical signs: - incidental, - sanguineous vaginal discharge, - weight decrease, - abdo discomfort/ enlargement Imaging Tx – good prognosis w leiomyoma if complete sx excision

Question 31

Fails to Sustain Pregnancy:

Answer 31

Resorption/ abortion Infectious/ inflam dx - Canine herpes, distemper, adenovirus, parvo - Toxoplasma gondii - Neospora caninum - Brucella canis - Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli Toxaemia Thromboembolic dx Uterine torsion Premature parturition Hypoluteoidism -> Tx: P4 Toxins/ drugs Env/ stress factors Diagnosis: - Blood analysis o Serological – infectious dx o Biochem/haem – metabolic o P4 assay – Hypoluteoidism - US

Question 32

Artificial Insemination:

Answer 32

Main reasons: o Location o Physical mating difficulties o Desired sire deceased Technique – 2 sites o Vaginal o Intrauterine Ethics – RCVS & Kennel Club guidance o Surgical insemination = unnecessary o Natural mating preferred, explain why not possible

Question 33

Cats:

Answer 33

Interoestrus (8-15d), proestrus (0-1d), oestrus (2-6d) No stim -> no ovulation -> no luteal phase - Ovulation – non-pregnant -> luteal phase ~25- 45d - Ovulation – pregnant -> luteal phase ~65d Male infertility = common Infectious causes of embryonic foetal death: o Feline parvo, FIV, FeLV o Bacteria – E. coli o Toxoplasma