A changed responsiveness to oestrogen in ewes with clover disease.
When clover-infertile ewes are subsequently exposed to non-oestrogenic pasture, they have a reduced fertilization rate, due to an inability to store spermatozoa in the cervix, and the cervical mucus has a reduced spinnbarkeit, caused by a slower response to oestrogenic stimulation. Vaginal cell keratinization and oestrous behaviour occurred more slowly after treatment of affected ewes with oestrogen. Other changes in affected ewes suggest that phyto-oestrogens have permanent mild differentiating effects on adults. Sexual behaviour is masculinized, the cervix takes on a uterine-like appearance and the genital tract becomes permanently oestrogenized. The manner in which these changes relate to the altered responsiveness to oestrogen remains to be clarified.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D007529:Isoflavones; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010944:Plants; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013083:Sperm Transport
D004967:Estrogens; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone