Reproduction is by far Dr. Whitaker's favorite topic and unit! Wednesday we learned about reproductive endocrinology and as if that wasn't enough, we had to act it out with props!!!
We have the hypothalamus producing GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) that stimulates the pituitary gland to produce LH (Luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). In the female, we acted out the female system because males are just too boring for us, FSH stimulates the development of the follicle and LH causes ovulation and the formation of the Corpus Luteum (CL). The third person in from the left is the ovary and the yellow dot on the ovary is the corpus luteum. Then we have the uterus which will either produce PGF two alpha if the animal is not pregnant which will then cause the corpus luteum to regress and the cycle starts all over again. Not being pregnant is not as cool, so we did the cycle over again and this time we got pregnant so the uterus regresses PGF two alpha and allows the corpus luteum to continue functioning in making progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone that tells the body that it's pregnant.
The reproductive endocrinology wasn't enough entertainment so we then had three people come up to show us the estrous cycle. The estrous cycle is the period of time when a female will accept male (for breeding purposes) this is also known as heat or estrus.
We had Day 0, Day 6 and Day 18 represented.
The red balloons represent the follicle and the green balloons represent the corpus luteum.
We had practiced not being pregnant so the next cycle we were going to get pregnant and I have no clue what was going through Dr. Whitaker's mind, but he was the male breeding with Jason.
No comments:
Post a Comment