title: The birth of a giant panda: Tracking the biological factors that successfully contribute to conception through to postnatal development.
abstract: Reproducing giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) remains the most challenging aspect of managed care of this species. However, advancement in knowledge stemming from basic science research on the giant panda has facilitated a growth in the population. Here, we report the successful application of reproductive technologies, including noninvasive hormone monitoring, behavioral/morphometric observations, ultrasonographic evaluations, and acute phase protein assessment, in an individual female. By applying these approaches to one female, we report the practicality and usefulness of a multidisciplinary approach to reproductive care of the species. In addition, the utilization of various technologies across multiple physiological states also provided us an opportunity to record previously understudied events, such as maternal response to weaning and growth of a conceptus.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA. Electronic address: dkersey@westernu.edu.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kersey
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservation Medicine, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Copper
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aitken-Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservation and Research, Memphis Zoological Society, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liu Yu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Conservation and Science, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008183:Luteal Phase; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D011372:Progestins / Q000097:blood; D001503:Ursidae / Q000502:physiology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins
keywords: Ceruloplasmin; Fetal growth; Giant panda; Noninvasive hormone monitoring