Southeast Iowa Reproduction Workshop General View Brain Hypothalamus vagina Pituitary cervix vulva Overview of the Reproductive Anatomy & Physiology of the Female Pig External urethral opening Rob Knox Swine Reproduction Extension Specialist Department of Animal Sciences University of Illinois-Urbana uterus bladder ovary University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana uterus The Vulva • Passage for AI catheters ovary or Boar penis cervix oviduct • Swells and changes color in gilts at estrus but not in bladder sows vagina • Source of bacteria entry Urethral • Clean wet feces off opening vulva •Use lubricant University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana The vagina uterus • ~12 inches in length ovary • Low pH protects cervix against bacteria oviduct • Some mucus bladder • Can become folded vagina • Lubrication eases rod passing Urethral opening vulva • Houses the urethral opening University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana 1 The cervix Cervical lock • Gate system for • Allows boar to the uterus ejaculate • 5 inter-digitating pads • Allows insemination with minimal backflow • Locks penis or AI 5 catheters 4 3 • Uterine catheters • Secretes mucus 2 pass just ahead 1 University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana Size changes in uterus during The uterus pregnancy • A passageway for sperm to the oviduct – Muscle contractions • Immune cell infiltration • A site for fetal development – Spacing – Attachment – Blood supply – Grows dramatically and involutes • Made up of – Endometrium –Stroma – Muscle • Repairs itself after delivery University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana uterus The oviduct ovary • Site of fertilization cervix oviduct • Sperm reservoir bladder vagina • Limits entry and Urethral exit under hormone opening vulva control University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana 2 Fimbria The ovaries encloses ovary to catch eggs • Are paired structures • Surrounded by a sac called fimbria • Produce eggs in follicles • Produce hormones estrogen, progesterone University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana The Physiology of Reproduction The Physiology of Female Reproduction PRL ty Oxytocin ri TSH a H P GnRH o us which induces FSH and LH release from the pituitary L ii n FSH and LH travel via blood aa g cc Factors to reach the ovary tt aa Diet/feeding tt ii Protein/energy/diet influences insulin and IGF oo n L Stressors ee influences cortisol n gg tt h Prolactin ent gem Thyroxin ana Temperature alters The ovary produces steroids M Estrogen, progesterone, androgen, and protein hormones University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana and inhibins feedbackUniversity to control of Illinois (+/-)- Champaign GnRH -Urbana The ovarian estrous cycle The cyclic ovary changes daily The Ovarian Cycle of the Pig Prepubertal gilt Cyclic gilts or sows Weaned sow estrus estrus ++++++++++++////--------------------------------------+++++++++---------------------- -5 -1 0 +2 +4 +7 +10 +12 +14 +16 Day of the Estrous Cycle 0 5 10 15 20 22 5 10 15 20 22 Estrus Ovulate Estrus Ovulate University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana 3 Follicles grow in response to FSH and Theca Externa LH A + Theca Interna produce estrogen E FSH PRL Granulosa •Plasma like Basal Lamina •Proteins P + •Enzymes Germinal Epithelium E Antrum:Fluid & Tunica Albuginea •Proteoglycans •Cytokines •Steroids Ovum University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana Estrogen and estrus Follicle Ovulation • High estrogen in • Induced by LH follicles and blood • Enzymes weaken follicle induces: and stigma forms – estrus behaviors – changes in the • egg & fluid expelled into reproductive tract oviduct – An LH surge University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana Ovulation Rate and Litter Size AI and Sperm Transport UTJ R R Oviduct: 14 site of fertilization C C 12 C Transport must allow for C 10 - establishment of reservoir R 8 - capacitation of sperm C Total Born Alive 6 4 Cervix: Site of deposition 4 5 6 7 8 9 10111213141516171819202122 Ovulation rate University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana King and Williams, 1984; n= 318 University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana Wu et al., 1987; n = 278 4 Fertilization Embryo Development • d 9-expand •d 11 • d 13-15 – Elongation – attachment University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana Limitations to Litter Size -Eggs ovulated, embryo survival, and Uterine capacity Day 30 Pregnancy Pregnancy requires 3-4 embryos at d 14 Progesterone prevents delivery (abortion) until d 114 University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana Best/Worst Times for RTU Avoid Problems-Fluid Vesicles Time To Diagnose and Fluid Diameter Day 27 Day 39 45 9 40 8 35 7 30 6 25 5 Time to decision 20 Diameter 4 15 3 Time to DecisionTime (s) Fluid Diameter (cm) Diameter Fluid 6.6 cm 4.5 cm 10 2 5 1 0 0 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 Day of Gestation University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana 5 Establishing Born Alive Litter Size Late gestation in Swine Ovulation Rate Early/Late embryo loss 20 7 9 Early fetal Loss 6 18 16 Mid fetal loss/Mummy 11 8 10 14 Late loss/Stillborn 12 Potential Born Alive 4 10 5 Litter Size 3 8 6 1 4 2 2 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 Day of pregnancy University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana Come visit University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana 6.