SECTION 5: PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF OVARIAN HORMONES

1. Physiological effects of estrogen

1.1 Myometrium: Estrogen promotes the proliferation and hypertrophy of the uterus muscle, enhances the sensitivity to oxytocin on the myometrium.

1.2 Endometrium: Estrogen promotes proliferation and repair of the endometrial glands.

1.3 Cervix uteri: Estrogen relaxes and expands the cervical canal. The secretion decreases and spinnbarkeit is visible.

1.4 Oviduct: Estrogen promotes the development and secretion of oviduct epithelium . This helps strengthening its contraction.

1.5 Vaginal epithelium: Estrogen promotes the proliferation and keratinization of the vaginal epithelium, maintaining an acid environment.

1.6 Pudendum: Estrogen promotes the development of the labia and deepens its color.

1.7 Ovary: Estrogen promotes follicular development. This is synergized by follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）.

1.8 Hypothalamic - pituitary: Estrogen controls gonadotrophin secretion by a positive and negative feedback effect on hypothalamus and pituitary.

1.9 Breast: Estrogen develops the proliferation of the lactiferous ducts.

1.10 Metabolism: Estrogen promotes water-sodium retention, it also promotes the synthesis of high density lipoprotein cholesterol of liver （HDL）and inhibits that of low density lipoprotein of liver （LDL）.It reduces the level of cholesterol and promotes the metabolism of the bone matrix.

2. Physiological effects of progesterone

The effect of progesterone is usually based on estrogen.

2.1 Myometrium

Progesterone reduces the sensitivity of myometrium to oxytocin and inhibits its contraction.

2.2 Endometrium

Progesterone transforms endometrium from the proliferative phase to the secretory phase.

2.3 Cervix uteri

Progesterone closes the cervical canal and reduces its secretion.

2.4 oviducts

Progesterone inhibits their contraction.

2.5 Vaginal epithelium

Progesterone accelerates its shedding.

2.6 Hypothalamus - pituitary

Progesterone promotes the positive feedback effect of estrogen on LH surge near the mid-cycle and a negative feed-back effect on Hypothalamic and pituitary on the luteal phase.

2.7 Breast

Progesterone promotes the development of the gland lobules and mammary alveoli.

2.8 Metabolism

Progesterone promotes the water and sodium excretion.

2.9 Temperature

Progesterone excites the temperature regulating center of Hypothalamus, raising the basal body temperature （BBT）0.3～0.5 degrees after ovulation. It is one of the signs of ovulation in clinical situations.

3. Synergistic and antagonistic effects of estrogen and progesterone

3.1 Synergistic reaction

They promote the developments of the female genitalia and the breast.

3.2 Antagonistic effects

Estrogen promotes proliferation and repair of the endometrium, progesterone inhibits its proliferation and transforms it from the proliferative phase to the secretory phase. They also show antagonism effects in the uterine contractions, fallopian tube peristalsis and so on.

4. Physiological effects of androgen

4.1 Impact on the female reproductive system

Androgen develops the mons pubis, labium, clitoris, pubes and armpit hair.

4.2 Effects of metabolic function on the body

Androgen promotes the protein synthesis and skeletal growth and stimulates the proliferation of bone marrow eryth-rocyte. It promotes the growth of bone matrix and calcium retention before sexual maturity and closes the epiphysis and terminates the growth after sexual maturity.

（王俊杰）