Protracted Reproductive Seasonality in the Male Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Reflected by Patterns in Androgen Profiles, Ejaculate Characteristics, and Selected Behaviors1

Aitken‐Palmer, Copper; Hou, Rong; Burrell, Caitlin; Zhang, Zhihe; Wang, Chengdong; Spindler, Rebecca; Wildt, David E.; Ottinger, Mary Ann; Howard, Jeremy

doi:10.1095/biolreprod.112.099044

Cited by 56 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Testosterone concentrations are significantly higher in the breeding season than the non-breeding season, rising approximately 6-8 weeks prior to peak breeding. This early increase relative to the onset of breeding has been reported in other ursids (Palmer et al 1988;White et al 2005;Aitken-Palmer et al 2012) and, assuming spermatogenesis in bears takes~40-60 days, is likely a reflection of enhanced spermatogenesis to synchronize the availability of abundant, mature sperm with the female's first oestrus. Mature spermatozoa have been observed in the epididymis of wild males from January to July, with the highest concentration of sperm observed mid-March to mid-May (Rosing-Asvid et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…; Aitken‐Palmer et al. ) and, assuming spermatogenesis in bears takes ~40–60 days, is likely a reflection of enhanced spermatogenesis to synchronize the availability of abundant, mature sperm with the female's first oestrus. Mature spermatozoa have been observed in the epididymis of wild males from January to July, with the highest concentration of sperm observed mid‐March to mid‐May (Rosing‐Asvid et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors Influencing Annual Fecal Testosterone Metabolite Profiles in Captive Male Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

Curry

Roth

MacKinnon

et al. 2012

Reprod Domestic Animals

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ContentsThe objectives of this study were to assess the effects of season, breeding activity, age and latitude on fecal testosterone metabolite concentrations in captive, adult male polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Fourteen polar bears from 13 North American zoos were monitored for 12-36 months, producing 25-year-long testosterone profiles. Results indicated that testosterone was significantly higher during the breeding season (early January through the end of May) compared with the non-breeding season with the highest concentrations excreted from early January through late March. Variations in excretion patterns were observed among individuals and also between years within an individual, with testosterone peaks closely associated with breeding activity. Results indicate that fecal testosterone concentrations are influenced by season, breeding activity and age, but not by latitude. This is the first report describing longitudinal fecal testosterone metabolite concentrations in individual adult male polar bears.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing Annual Fecal Testosterone Metabolite Profiles in Captive Male Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

Curry

Roth

MacKinnon

et al. 2012

Reprod Domestic Animals

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“…The testosterone EIA relied on a polyclonal anti-testosterone antibody (R156/7; C. Munro, University of California, Davis, CA) [ 33 ] that cross-reacted with testosterone (100%), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (57.4%), <1% with androstenedione, androsterone, androsteneolone, cholesterol, and estradiol-17β, and <0.02% with progesterone, pregnenolone, and hydrocortisone. Antibody (0.05 ml) was added to 96-well microtiter plates (Nunc-Immuno, Maxisorp; Fisher Scientific) and equilibrated for 12 to 48 h (4°C).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motile Sperm Output by Male Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) Managed Ex Situ Is Influenced by Public Exposure and Number of Care-Givers

et al. 2015

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The collective cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) population in zoological institutions has never been self-sustaining because of challenges in natural reproduction. A retrospective analysis of North American zoo-breeding records has revealed that >90% of litters produced since 2003 occurred in facilities ‘off-display’ from the public. We examined seminal, endocrine, and behavioral traits of 29 adult male cheetahs that were: 1) managed in public exhibit or off-display facilities; 2) maintained by different numbers of cheetah-specific care-givers; and 3) living adjacent to varying numbers of adult conspecifics. Cheetahs housed off-display produced more total motile sperm/ejaculate (P = 0.04) than on-exhibit males. This finding was mirrored in our laboratory’s historical records where two-fold more total motile sperm (P < 0.01) were measured in ejaculates from individuals with no public exposure (n = 43) compared to on-exhibit (n = 116) counterparts. Males at institutions with ≤3 care-givers also produced more total motile sperm/ejaculate (P < 0.03) and spent more time behaviorally active (P < 0.01) than at facilities using >3 care-givers. Exposure to high numbers of conspecifics within the same institution did not impact (P > 0.05) seminal traits, and presence of the public, care-giver number, or animals/facility had no influence (P > 0.05) on androgen or glucocorticoid excretion or other behavioral metrics. Findings indicate that male cheetahs are sensitive to general public exposure and too many care-givers, resulting in compromised motile sperm output/ejaculate with mechanism of action unrelated to altered androgen or glucocorticoid excretion.

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“…The idea of applying a mixture of bacteria with different properties (immune cell stimulus, plant growth promoter and killer of bad bacterial strains) should be used for many other purposes in life and medical sciences. Our results in pigs certainly pave the way to future attempts in curing infectious diseases in other industrial animal species such as rabbit, chicken, duck, donkey, horse, cow, goat, lamb and mouton, in domestic animals, as well as in endangered animal species such as the musk deer or Panda that can develop poor health in inadequate captivity or park reserve environment 68,69 . Poor health conditions as consequences of an impaired or deficient digestive system is often associated with problems in animal reproduction.…”

Section: 4 5 Figures S1-s5; Tables 3 4)mentioning

confidence: 79%

Curing piglets from diarrhea and preparation of a healthy microbiome with Bacillus treatment for industrial animal breeding

Yue

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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High-throughput farming of animals for an essential purpose such as large scale health and production of hogs is a challenge for the food industry in the modern world. The problem is that the breeding of livestock for fast growth or high yields of meat is often associated with illness and microbial infection that develop under the breeding conditions. Piglet diarrhea is most common pig disease, leading to heavy mortality and thereby economic loss. We proved that chemical drugs can relieve the symptoms of diarrhea in ill piglets, but they do not treat the underlying cause, i.e. significantly altered bacterial gut flora. Using Illumina sequencing of fecal DNA, we showed that the bacterial gut flora of piglets treated with antibiotics remain close to the ill conditions. However, using Illumina sequencing of fecal DNA from piglets treated with a specific Bacillus (Bacillus subtilis Y-15, B. amyloliquefaciens DN6502 and B. licheniformis SDZD02) demonstrated the efficiency of natural bioproducts not only on curing diarrhea, but also on beneficial bacteria to re-establish in the piglet gut. We therefore propose a new natural “medicine” to be explored by the world farm animal agriculture industry, particularly for sustainable improvement of swine livestock production and health.

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Protracted Reproductive Seasonality in the Male Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Reflected by Patterns in Androgen Profiles, Ejaculate Characteristics, and Selected Behaviors1

Cited by 56 publications

References 32 publications

Factors Influencing Annual Fecal Testosterone Metabolite Profiles in Captive Male Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

Factors Influencing Annual Fecal Testosterone Metabolite Profiles in Captive Male Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

Motile Sperm Output by Male Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) Managed Ex Situ Is Influenced by Public Exposure and Number of Care-Givers

Curing piglets from diarrhea and preparation of a healthy microbiome with Bacillus treatment for industrial animal breeding

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