Question

The oestrous cycle is a characteristic of

(a) human females only

(b) mammalian females other than primates

(c) human males only

(d) mammalian males other than primates.

Answer 1

The oestrous cycle is a characteristic of (b) mammalian females other than primates

Oestrous cycle of reproductive activity shown by primarily sexually mature nonpregnant female mammals except most primates . It are four phases: pro-oestrus (follicular phase) – In which Graafian follicles develop in the ovary and secrete oestrogens. Oestrus (heat) – ovulation occurs normally, in which female is all set to mate and becomes sexually attractive to the male. Metoestrus (luteal phase) – In this phase corpus luteum develops to from ruptured follicle. Dioestrus – in this phase progesterone is secreted by corpus luteum while preparing uterus for implantation.

The duration of the cycle mainly depends on the species.In larger mammals characteristically, there is a single annual cycle with a well-defined breeding season, which are described as monoestrous. Other species may have many cycles per year known as polyoestrous.