HSCI 216 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Endocrine System, Energy Flux, Fecundity
19 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
Cortisol= stress hormones secreted from adrenal glands. takes energy from storage and puts it into the blood. Energetic challenges can effect the changes of conceiving a pregnancy. Extreme dieting and strenuous exercise in women from industrial countries, and low-calorie diet and workload in women from developing countries, are often associated with ovarian suppression. This information inspired anthropologists to ponder about the origin of that association. If energy gains and energy expenditure are today affecting reproductive function, then they should have done so in the past and seasons are a very good predictor of energy availability and expenditures. Try to have the peak of energy expenditure coincide with peak of energy availability. Also can make the hypothesis that if theres a drought and there is food scarcity not related to seasons, you should see ovarian suppression. Harvest and haying were performed during summer, yet food availability was not limited in this population.
