Hormones Part Two

Yesterday we talked about progesterone and LH (luteinizing hormone), today I want to talk about the two other important hormones involved with estrous which are estrogen and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). 

Starting with FSH, this hormone is produced by the pituitary gland which is found near the base of the brain. This hormone is important as it will encourage the production of follicles on the ovary. A follicle can be thought of almost like a pimple, except the interior is filled with supportive fluid and a single, immature egg. The ovary can have multiple follicles appear at once, however only one will fully mature and eventually rupture. A mature follicle must rupture to release the egg, and once ruptured the new structure that remains on the ovary for several more days is a corpus luteum. Estrogen ties into follicular development by helping to trigger the rupturing event for a mature follicle. Once levels of estrogen are high in the body (follicles will release estrogen as well as ovaries) this can cause a cascade of events which the end result is increased production and secretion of LH and rupture of the mature ovarian follicle. 

Here is a neat photograph curtesy of imv imaging of a cow ovary indicated by the yellow arrow with three small follicles indicated by the red arrows.

Whew, all this hormone talk is complicated! I hope you learned something just like I have and I will continue to expand upon the cattle estrous cycle next week :)

Today we shipped 4,735 gallons of milk.

Today we had no new calves.