O. Bobrytska and colleagues (2024) examined the physiological mechanisms controlling reproductive function in female dogs, highlighting the integration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone, stimulating the ovaries to secrete estrogens and progesterone, which regulate ovulation, sexual behavior, and pregnancy maintenance.
Unlike other domestic species, female dogs do not show increased estrogen during pregnancy, and luteal regression occurs despite elevated pituitary hormones. Instead, progesterone produced by the corpus luteum plays a dominant role. It prepares the endometrium for implantation, sustains pregnancy, and is widely applied as a biomarker in reproductive management.
The review also reports significant individual variation in progesterone levels among female dogs, linked to the number of ovulations and corpus lutea. Older females may synthesize progesterone more efficiently than younger ones, suggesting maturation of luteal endocrine activity with age. Elevated progesterone is also seen in pseudopregnancy, further reinforcing its diagnostic importance.
Beyond its reproductive function, progesterone acts as a neurosteroid, metabolized within the central nervous system, where it exerts neuromodulatory, neuroprotective, and neurogenic effects. This dual role emphasizes progesterone’s influence not only on fertility but also on broader aspects of female dog health and behavior.
Source: Bobrytska, O., Forkun, V., Vodopyanova, L. A., Yugai, K. D., Zhukova, I., Denisova, O., & Vaschyk, E. V. (2024). Physiological basis of nervous-humoral regulation in reproductive function of female dogs (review). Journal: Veterinary Science, Technologies of Animal Husbandry and Nature Management. Publication Date: 2024-05-23. Authors: O. Bobrytska et al.
