Diestrus is defined as which of the following?

Diestrus is defined as which of the following?

• A. The period after metestrus
• B. The period immediately before estrus
• C. The period of ovulation
• D. The final stage of pregnancy

Answer: (A)

Diestrus is the luteal phase following ovulation when the corpus luteum is active and secreting progesterone. This hormone thickens the uterine lining and maintains a potential pregnancy. It typically lasts about 10–14 days in many farm animals, after which the cycle moves toward proestrus if pregnancy doesn’t occur and the corpus luteum regresses. The period before estrus is proestrus, and the actual ovulation occurs during estrus; the final stage of pregnancy is not a short cyclic phase of the normal estrous cycle.

Diestrus is the luteal phase following ovulation when the corpus luteum is active and secreting progesterone. This hormone thickens the uterine lining and maintains a potential pregnancy. It typically lasts about 10–14 days in many farm animals, after which the cycle moves toward proestrus if pregnancy doesn’t occur and the corpus luteum regresses. The period before estrus is proestrus, and the actual ovulation occurs during estrus; the final stage of pregnancy is not a short cyclic phase of the normal estrous cycle.