Endocrinology of the giant panda and application of hormone technology to species management

Steinman, Karen J.; Monfort, Steven L.; McGeehan, Laura; Kersey, David C.; Gual-Sil, Fernando; Snyder, Rebecca J.; Wang, Pengyan; Nakao, Tatsuko; Czekala, Nancy M.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511542244.009

Cited by 55 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The reproductive biology of the female giant panda has received considerable attention over the past 30 years (Snyder et al 2004, Howard et al 2006, Steinman et al 2006. Aside from the species' natural charisma, the reproductive biology of the giant panda is intriguing because females are seasonally monoestrus, having the opportunity to conceive during only one 24-72 h period annually.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Until recently, endocrine data on the giant panda were largely derived from evaluating hormonal metabolites in urine (Steinman et al 2006). We recently demonstrated the ability to detect changes in oestrogen and progestagen metabolites in bamboo-laden, fibrous faeces during this species' dynamic perioestrual interval (Kersey et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We recently demonstrated the ability to detect changes in oestrogen and progestagen metabolites in bamboo-laden, fibrous faeces during this species' dynamic perioestrual interval (Kersey et al 2010). Most previous endocrine studies in giant pandas have focused on behavioural oestrus and ovulation, when there appears to be a modest postovulatory rise in urinary progestagen (usually termed the primary rise; Steinman et al 2006). There has been little attention directed at understanding the prolonged luteal phase in pregnant versus non-pregnant individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There has been little attention directed at understanding the prolonged luteal phase in pregnant versus non-pregnant individuals. Of ten reports on this topic, only three giant pandas in total have been monitored for urinary progestagen profiles from ovulation to parturition or through a non-parturient phase (sometimes referred to as 'pseudopregnancy'; Bonney et al 1982, Hodges et al 1984, Chaudhuri et al 1988, Masui et al 1989, Monfort et al 1989, McGeehan et al 2002, Narushima et al 2003, Dehnhard et al 2006, Steinman et al 2006, Spady et al 2007. In these cases, a secondary urinary progestagen rise has occurred 74-122 days after the end of oestrus (Steinman et al 2006) that has suggested a shift in hormonal source, perhaps related to nidation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of ten reports on this topic, only three giant pandas in total have been monitored for urinary progestagen profiles from ovulation to parturition or through a non-parturient phase (sometimes referred to as 'pseudopregnancy'; Bonney et al 1982, Hodges et al 1984, Chaudhuri et al 1988, Masui et al 1989, Monfort et al 1989, McGeehan et al 2002, Narushima et al 2003, Dehnhard et al 2006, Steinman et al 2006, Spady et al 2007. In these cases, a secondary urinary progestagen rise has occurred 74-122 days after the end of oestrus (Steinman et al 2006) that has suggested a shift in hormonal source, perhaps related to nidation. The giant panda has long been considered to experience delayed implantation (Hodges et al 1984, Monfort et al 1989, Zhang et al 2009), a strictly mammalian strategy prominent in carnivores, especially ursids (Hamlett 1935, Conaway 1971, Weir & Rowlands 1973, Renfree & Calaby 1981, Mead 1989, Sandell 1990, Lindenfors et al 2003, Spady et al 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Unique biphasic progestagen profile in parturient and non-parturient giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) as determined by faecal hormone monitoring

Kersey¹,

Wildt²,

Brown³

et al. 2010

Reproduction

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The luteal phase of the giant panda has been exclusively assessed by studying urinary hormone patterns in a very few individuals. To better understand hormonal dynamics of protracted progestagen excretion in this endangered species, we monitored hormonal metabolites in the fibrous faeces of multiple females in the USA and China. Giant pandas that were anoestrual during the breeding season excreted baseline progestagen throughout the year. In contrast, there were two distinctive periods when progestagen excretion increased in females that experienced behavioural oestrus, the first being modest, lasting for 61-122 days, and likely reflecting presumptive ovulation. This increase was far surpassed by a secondary rise in progestagen excretion associated with a rejuvenated luteal capacity or hormone production from an extra-gonadal source. The duration of this 'secondary' rise in progestagen excretion averaged w45 days and terminated in a decline to baseline coincident with parturition or the end of a non-parturient luteal interval. Data revealed that, even with a complex, biphasic progestagen profile, the longitudinal patterns produced by giant pandas were relatively consistent among animals and across years within individuals. However, progestagen excretion patterns throughout this period could not be used to discriminate among non-pregnant, pregnant or pseudopregnant states.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Unique biphasic progestagen profile in parturient and non-parturient giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) as determined by faecal hormone monitoring

Kersey¹,

Wildt²,

Brown³

et al. 2010

Reproduction

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Effects of changes in photoperiod and temperature on the estrous cycle of a captive female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Tay¹,

Huang

et al. 2018

Zoo Biology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The female giant panda's estrus is known to be photoperiod sensitive, triggered by increasing day length. A pair of giant pandas was brought to Singapore in September 2012 and exposed to a constant temperature and photoperiod during the first 2 years. The female did not show any signs of estrus during that period. In November 2014, photoperiod and temperature were manipulated to simulate seasonal changes, to investigate the effects of environmental factors on the sexual behavior of the giant pandas. This paper documents the changes and observations carried out from 2012 to 2016, in the attempt to breed this vulnerable species.

show abstract

Luteal phase length, endometrial edema, and behavior differentiate post‐ovulatory events in a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite decades of reproductive research on the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), the post‐ovulatory phase continues to confound zoologists in conservation and breeding centers around the world, often resulting in significant investments of time and resources without reproductive success. The purpose of this project was to document and compare post‐ovulatory characteristics during a non‐productive and productive breeding in the same individual in consecutive years. A multidisciplinary approach was used to monitor the visiting female giant panda at the Toronto Zoo through the luteal phase of her first two full reproductive cycles in 2014 and 2015. Monitoring occurred via urine‐endocrine analysis, weekly ultrasound examinations, and continuous behavioral observations. The 2014 reproductive cycle consisted of a pseudopregnancy, characterized by an extended luteal phase (241 days), the identification of endometrial edema and folding during ultrasound examinations, and a lack of strong association between behavior patterns and urinary progestagen secretion. The 2015 reproductive cycle included increased feeding time through the primary progestagen rise compared to the previous year, followed by simultaneous decrease in appetite and increases in inactivity, resting, sitting upright, and pre‐partum‐associated behaviors. These changes began 25 days before the birth of twins on Day 153 post‐ovulation. Both fetuses were detected via ultrasound 15 days pre‐partum. These results suggest that an absence of pre‐partum behaviors, ultrasound evidence of endometrial edema without a fetus, and an extended luteal phase may be indicative of pseudopregnancy in giant pandas. Simultaneous monitoring of morphology, behavior, and urinary‐endocrine profiles showed clear differences between successful and unsuccessful reproductive years.

show abstract

Endocrinology of the giant panda and application of hormone technology to species management

Cited by 55 publications

References 26 publications

Unique biphasic progestagen profile in parturient and non-parturient giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) as determined by faecal hormone monitoring

Unique biphasic progestagen profile in parturient and non-parturient giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) as determined by faecal hormone monitoring

Effects of changes in photoperiod and temperature on the estrous cycle of a captive female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Luteal phase length, endometrial edema, and behavior differentiate post‐ovulatory events in a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About