Chemical communication plays an important role in survival and reproductive success in mammalian species. In the present study, we examined the ontogenetic pattern of behavioral responses of male giant pandas （Ailuro...Chemical communication plays an important role in survival and reproductive success in mammalian species. In the present study, we examined the ontogenetic pattern of behavioral responses of male giant pandas （Ailuropoda melanoleuca ） to urine odors of conspecific individuals. Our data showed that exposure to the urine of adult females induced a significant increase in sniffing and environmental sniffing/licking behaviors, but a decrease in biting behavior, in males. Males of different ages displayed specific behaviors to female urine odors. Adult males spent more time licking than juvenile and sub-adult males. Further, sub-adult and adult males displayed high levels of environmental sniffing/licking, which was absent in the juvenile males. Juvenile males displayed scent rubbing behavior significantly more frequently than sub-adult and adult males, and also spent more time showing biting behavior than sub-adult males. Finally, juvenile and sub-aduh males showed no difference in response to female and male urine odors. Together, these data suggest that chemosensory cues from conspecific urines induce age-specific responses in male giant pandas.展开更多
In this study, non radioactive Digoxigenin labeled ribosomal DNA(rDNA) probes were used for Southern blotting analysis to study the molecular phylogeny of the giant panda and related species. Restriction maps in the ...In this study, non radioactive Digoxigenin labeled ribosomal DNA(rDNA) probes were used for Southern blotting analysis to study the molecular phylogeny of the giant panda and related species. Restriction maps in the regions of rDNA spacers were compared between giant panda( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ), lesser panda( Ailurus fulgens ), Asiatic black bear( Selenarctos thibetanus ), sun bear( Helarctos malayanus ), raccoon( Procyon lotor ) and lynx( Felis lynx ). Phylogenetic trees for these species were constructed using maximum likelihood and parsimony method. The results show that in respect to rDNA RFLPs, the giant panda is more closely related to bear than to lesser panda; while the lesser panda is slightly related to the raccoon.展开更多
In order to survey the infectious situation of canine coronavirus (CCV) in giant panda population, a virus neutralization test detecting specific antibodies against CCV in giant panda抯 sera was established by using t...In order to survey the infectious situation of canine coronavirus (CCV) in giant panda population, a virus neutralization test detecting specific antibodies against CCV in giant panda抯 sera was established by using two-fold dilutions of serum and 100 TCID50 of the virus. The 62 sera samples of giant pandas, which were gathered from zoos and reserve region of Sichuan Province, China were detected. The neutralization antibody titer of 1:4 was recognized as the positive criterion, 8 sera samples were detected to be positive, and the positive rate was 12.9%. The titers of neutralizing antibody ranged from 1:8 to 1:32. It was the first comprehensive investigation on neutralization antibodies against CCV in giant panda population in China. The results of study showed that the infection of CCV in giant panda population was universal, which has posed a threat to the health of giant panda. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to study safe and effective vaccines to protect giant panda against CCV infection.展开更多
The goal of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) breeding program is to develop a self sustaining,genetically diverse population.Due to the common problems about sexual incompatibility and a limited number of...The goal of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) breeding program is to develop a self sustaining,genetically diverse population.Due to the common problems about sexual incompatibility and a limited number of captive born males that breed naturally,artificial insemination (AI) has become a critical genetic management tool.It is common practice,however,to combine natural mating and AI using semen from non breeding males.From 1998 to 2000 at the Wolong breeding facility,12 of 18 (66.7%) females produced 20 cubs following combined natural mating and AI.The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of AI without natural breeding.In 1998 and 2000,seven females were anesthetized for transcervical AI on two consecutive days.Ejaculates from six males were collected by electroejaculation,diluted in an egg yolk diluent containing 0% or 4% glycerol and used either fresh or following cold storage at 4℃ (for 24 or 48 h) or cryopreservation using the pellet freezing method.Mean (±SEM) ejaculate traits in six male sperm donors were:ejaculate volume,3.3±0.5 ml;sperm concentration,1,429.8±235.4×10 6/ml;sperm motility,81.7±2.1%;progression (0～5,5=best),3.1±0.1;and normal sperm,79.3±9.2%.For AI (n = 14) in seven females,mean inseminate traits were:spermic volume inseminated,2.4±0.3 ml;sperm motility,73.5±2.9%;progression,2.5±0.1;and total motile sperm inseminated/AI,684.2±118.2×10 6.Four of seven (57.1%) females became pregnant and produced five cubs of which four survived.Mean gestation and litter size was 131.5±9.7 days and 1.3±0.3 cubs/litter,respectively.These results indicate that the efficiency of AI is sufficient for recovering valuable genes from non breeding individuals to enhance genetic diversity in the ex situ population of giant pandas.展开更多
文摘Chemical communication plays an important role in survival and reproductive success in mammalian species. In the present study, we examined the ontogenetic pattern of behavioral responses of male giant pandas （Ailuropoda melanoleuca ） to urine odors of conspecific individuals. Our data showed that exposure to the urine of adult females induced a significant increase in sniffing and environmental sniffing/licking behaviors, but a decrease in biting behavior, in males. Males of different ages displayed specific behaviors to female urine odors. Adult males spent more time licking than juvenile and sub-adult males. Further, sub-adult and adult males displayed high levels of environmental sniffing/licking, which was absent in the juvenile males. Juvenile males displayed scent rubbing behavior significantly more frequently than sub-adult and adult males, and also spent more time showing biting behavior than sub-adult males. Finally, juvenile and sub-aduh males showed no difference in response to female and male urine odors. Together, these data suggest that chemosensory cues from conspecific urines induce age-specific responses in male giant pandas.
文摘In this study, non radioactive Digoxigenin labeled ribosomal DNA(rDNA) probes were used for Southern blotting analysis to study the molecular phylogeny of the giant panda and related species. Restriction maps in the regions of rDNA spacers were compared between giant panda( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ), lesser panda( Ailurus fulgens ), Asiatic black bear( Selenarctos thibetanus ), sun bear( Helarctos malayanus ), raccoon( Procyon lotor ) and lynx( Felis lynx ). Phylogenetic trees for these species were constructed using maximum likelihood and parsimony method. The results show that in respect to rDNA RFLPs, the giant panda is more closely related to bear than to lesser panda; while the lesser panda is slightly related to the raccoon.
基金This research was supported by National Science Founda-tion of China (No. 30000123) and Conversation Department of Wildlife Ani-mal & Plants of State Forestry Bureau.
文摘In order to survey the infectious situation of canine coronavirus (CCV) in giant panda population, a virus neutralization test detecting specific antibodies against CCV in giant panda抯 sera was established by using two-fold dilutions of serum and 100 TCID50 of the virus. The 62 sera samples of giant pandas, which were gathered from zoos and reserve region of Sichuan Province, China were detected. The neutralization antibody titer of 1:4 was recognized as the positive criterion, 8 sera samples were detected to be positive, and the positive rate was 12.9%. The titers of neutralizing antibody ranged from 1:8 to 1:32. It was the first comprehensive investigation on neutralization antibodies against CCV in giant panda population in China. The results of study showed that the infection of CCV in giant panda population was universal, which has posed a threat to the health of giant panda. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to study safe and effective vaccines to protect giant panda against CCV infection.
文摘The goal of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) breeding program is to develop a self sustaining,genetically diverse population.Due to the common problems about sexual incompatibility and a limited number of captive born males that breed naturally,artificial insemination (AI) has become a critical genetic management tool.It is common practice,however,to combine natural mating and AI using semen from non breeding males.From 1998 to 2000 at the Wolong breeding facility,12 of 18 (66.7%) females produced 20 cubs following combined natural mating and AI.The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of AI without natural breeding.In 1998 and 2000,seven females were anesthetized for transcervical AI on two consecutive days.Ejaculates from six males were collected by electroejaculation,diluted in an egg yolk diluent containing 0% or 4% glycerol and used either fresh or following cold storage at 4℃ (for 24 or 48 h) or cryopreservation using the pellet freezing method.Mean (±SEM) ejaculate traits in six male sperm donors were:ejaculate volume,3.3±0.5 ml;sperm concentration,1,429.8±235.4×10 6/ml;sperm motility,81.7±2.1%;progression (0～5,5=best),3.1±0.1;and normal sperm,79.3±9.2%.For AI (n = 14) in seven females,mean inseminate traits were:spermic volume inseminated,2.4±0.3 ml;sperm motility,73.5±2.9%;progression,2.5±0.1;and total motile sperm inseminated/AI,684.2±118.2×10 6.Four of seven (57.1%) females became pregnant and produced five cubs of which four survived.Mean gestation and litter size was 131.5±9.7 days and 1.3±0.3 cubs/litter,respectively.These results indicate that the efficiency of AI is sufficient for recovering valuable genes from non breeding individuals to enhance genetic diversity in the ex situ population of giant pandas.
