cyclic alterations in animal female tract and in sexual receptivity related to hormone changes. When searching both American (estrous) and British (oestrous) spellings are used in the literature. (More? Menstrual Cycle - Estrous Cycle | Mouse estrous cycle)
The length of time between consecutive ovulations.
Portion or phase of the sexual cycle of female animals characterized by a willingness to permit coitus
Sexual cycle of the female
Gr. oistros - a strong desire]. The female reproductive cycle of most mammals (not primates). It consists of four stages: proestrus, where the uterine lining begins to thicken; estrus or the "heat" phase of sexual receptivity when ovulation occurs; metestrus, where the corpus luteum forms and secretes hormones to maintain the uterine lining and prevent further ovulation; and diestrus, where if fertilization does not occur, the uterine lining is reabsorbed.
The regular occurrence of estrus from one period to the next. A female is considered to be cycling if estrous periods occur at regular intervals.
In female mammals (other than most primates), the hormonally controlled, regularly repeated stages by which the body is prepared for reproduction.
Recurring episodes of sexual receptivity that precede ovulation in most female mammals. They are characterized by rising and falling levels of estrogens and progesterone in the bloodstream. See also estrogens, progesterone.
The period of cyclic physiological and behavior changes in non-primate female mammals that exhibit ESTRUS. The estrous cycle generally consists of 4 or 5 distinct periods corresponding to the endocrine status (PROESTRUS, ESTRUS, METESTRUS, DIESTRUS, and ANESTRUS).
The estrous cycle (also oestrous cycle; originally derived from Latin oestrus) refers to the recurring physiologic changes that are induced by reproductive hormones in most mammalian placental females. Humans and great apes undergo a menstrual cycle instead. Estrous cycles start after puberty in sexually mature females and are interrupted by anestrous phases.