Physiological basis of nervous-humoral regulation in reproductive function of female dogs (review)
Abstract
The article contains up-to-date information on the regulation of the reproductive function of female dogs. The synergy of the nervous and humoral systems during the reproductive cycle in female dogs is shown and described in details. Reproduction is primarily regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The leading role in which is played by the hypothalamus, which produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone. In turn, the ovaries produce estrogens, which affect the development, maintenance of sexual characteristics, regulation of ovulation cycles and maintenance of pregnancy. Progesterone, which is also produced in the ovaries by the corpus luteum, prepares the endometrium to accept a fertilized egg and supports pregnancy.
In female dogs, the neuro-humoral regulation of reproductive function has its essential differences from other mammals. Reproductive behaviour is well described in most species of animals, but the basic physiological foundations of sexual behavior have been neglected by researchers. Now it is becoming clear that health, feeding and environment can affect the reproductive function of dogs. Unlike other domestic animals, female dogs do not have an increase in oestrogen content during pregnancy and childbirth, and luteal regression occurs despite an increase in the content of pituitary hormones. Elevated progesterone levels are also observed in pseudopregnancy. Thus, the progesterone level is widely used as a clinical biomarker in female dogs’ reproductive management. In addition, quite significant individual variations in the level of sex hormones in the body have been established in female dogs. In female dogs, the degree of variation in circulating progesterone levels is associated with multiple and variable number of ovulations and corpus luteum. Elderly female dogs should be able to synthesize progesterone at a higher efficiency than young ones, suggesting that luteal endocrine activity changes from juvenile to adulthood as it undergoes maturation. Progesterone also belongs to the group of neurosteroids and can be metabolized in all parts of the central nervous system, due to this, it has neuromodulatory, neuroprotective and neurogenic effects.
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