Changes

In ruminants the cervical mucus is expelled from the vagina during oestrous and is known as 'bulling string'. Bulling string therefore indicates that animal is in oestrous and should be mated.

In ruminants the cervical mucus is expelled from the vagina during oestrous and is known as 'bulling string'. Bulling string therefore indicates that animal is in oestrous and should be mated.

==Cervical Softening==

==Cervical Softening==

Immediately prior to birth, the pre-parturition cervix looses firmness.

Immediately prior to birth, the pre-parturition cervix looses firmness. Cervical softening involves two changes in the intracellular matrix; firstly a reduction in the number of collagen fibres and secondly an increase in GAGs to decrease aggregation of the remaining collagen fibres.

 

 

Cervical softening involves two changes in the intracellular matrix:

Several hormones are known to exhibit an effect on the cervix resulting pre-parturition softening; 'prostaglandin' and 'relaxin'. Prostaglandin levels increase markedly in the days prior to parturition, peaking at parturition. There are two main types and sources of prostaglandin that are important in cervical softening; prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). PGF2α is produced in responce to the production of fetal corticoids and is produced by the placenta.

* Reduction of collagen fibres

* Increase in GAGs to decrease aggregation of the remaining collagen fibres.