Delayed implantation in giant pandas: the first comprehensive empirical evidence

Successful conservation of an endangered species relies on a good understanding of its reproductive biology, but there are large knowledge gaps. For example, many questions remain unanswered with regard to gestation and fetal development in the giant panda. We take advantage of a sample size that is unprecedented for this species (n=13) to explore patterns in reproductive development across individuals at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. We use ultrasound techniques on multiple giant pandas for the first time to empirically confirm what has long been suspected that pandas exhibit delayed implantation of the embryo. We also show that the duration of postfetal detection period is remarkably similar across individuals (16.85±1.34 days). Detection of fetus by ultrasound was strongly correlated to the peak in urinary progesterone (r=0.96, t=8.48, d.f.=8, P=0.0001) and swelling in the mammary glands (r=0.79, t=3.61, d.f.=8, P=0.007) and vulva (r=0.91, t=6.40, d.f.=8, P=0.0002) of adult females. When controlling for both the duration of the total gestation period and the postfetal detection period, infant birth weight was only significantly predicted by the latter (β=11.25, s.e.m.=4.98, t=2.26, P=0.05), suggesting that delayed implantation increases flexibility in the timing of birth but is not important in dictating infant growth. This study informs reproductive biology by exploring the little-studied phenomenon of delayed implantation in relationship to physiological changes in pregnant giant panda females.

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Information-based analysis of the coupling between brain and heart reactions to olfactory stimulation

Technology and Health Care ◽

10.3233/thc-213136 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Najmeh Pakniyat ◽

Mohammad Hossein Babini ◽

Vladimir V. Kulish ◽

Hamidreza Namazi

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Biomedical Science ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Eeg Signals ◽

Ecg Signals ◽

Olfactory Stimuli ◽

Electrocardiogram Ecg ◽

First Time ◽

Electroencephalogram Eeg ◽

The Brain

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the heart activity is one of the important areas of research in biomedical science and engineering. For this purpose, scientists analyze the activity of the heart in various conditions. Since the brain controls the heart’s activity, a relationship should exist among their activities. OBJECTIVE: In this research, for the first time the coupling between heart and brain activities was analyzed by information-based analysis. METHODS: Considering Shannon entropy as the indicator of the information of a system, we recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals of 13 participants (7 M, 6 F, 18–22 years old) in different external stimulations (using pineapple, banana, vanilla, and lemon flavors as olfactory stimuli) and evaluated how the information of EEG signals and R-R time series (as heart rate variability (HRV)) are linked. RESULTS: The results indicate that the changes in the information of the R-R time series and EEG signals are strongly correlated (ρ=-0.9566). CONCLUSION: We conclude that heart and brain activities are related.

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Acrosomal integrity and capacitation are not influenced by sperm cryopreservation in the giant panda

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep.1.00034 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 127 (5) ◽

pp. 547-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

R E Spindler ◽

Y Huang ◽

J G Howard ◽

P Wang ◽

H Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sperm Motility ◽

Giant Panda ◽

Calcium Ionophore ◽

Sperm Cryopreservation ◽

Management Tools ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Before And After ◽

Cryopreservation Protocol ◽

Acrosomal Integrity

Sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination are important management tools for giant panda breeding and the preservation of extant genetic diversity. This study examined the influence of freeze–thawing on sperm function, specifically capacitation. Sperm from nine giant pandas were assessed before and after rapid (− 40 and − 100 °C/min) cryopreservation by incubation in HEPES-buffered Ham’s F10 medium with and without the capacitation accelerators, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). At 0, 3 and 6 h of exposure, aliquots were assessed for sperm motility traits and capacitation, defined as the proportion of sperm with intact acrosomes following exposure to solubilised zonae pellucidae (ursid or felid) or calcium ionophore subtracted from the proportion of sperm with intact acrosomes before exposure. Although mean±s.e.m. sperm motility post-thaw (56.1 ± 3.9% at 0 h) was less (P < 0.05) than pre-freeze (71.7 ± 6.0%), there was no difference (P > 0.05) in the proportion of acrosome-intact sperm (fresh, 93.0 ± 1.7% versus cryopreserved–thawed, 81.7 ± 4.7% at 0 h). Incidence of capacitation was greater (P < 0.05) in fresh sperm incubated with capacitation accelerators IBMX and dbcAMP (9 h: 50.9 ± 1.1) compared with fresh sperm incubated without accelerators (9 h: 41.2 ± 1.1%). Frozen–thawed sperm preincubated without accelerators underwent capacitation (49.6 ± 1.1%) to a greater extent (P < 0.05) compared with these fresh counterparts. Thawed samples with (9 h: 45.9 ± 1.4%) and without accelerators (9 h: 41.2 ± 1.1%) did not differ (P > 0.05) during the 9-h incubation. We conclude that giant panda spermatozoa (1) undergo capacitation in vitro with or without chemical accelerators and (2) withstand a rapid cryopreservation protocol, including retaining normal acrosomal integrity and functional capacitation ability.

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Immune profiles of male giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during breeding season

10.21203/rs.3.rs-29894/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

haibo shen ◽

Caiwu Li ◽

Ming He ◽

Yan Huang ◽

Jing Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pattern Recognition ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Giant Panda ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Killer Cell ◽

Pattern Recognition Receptors ◽

Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Immune Related Genes

Abstract Background: The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a threatened endemic Chinese species and a flagship species of national and global conservation concern. Life history theory proposes that reproduction and immunity can be mutually constraining and interrelated. Knowledge of immunity changes of male giant pandas during the breeding season is limited.Results: Here, we researched peripheral blood gene expression profiles associated with immunity. Thirteen captive giant pandas, ranging from 9 to 11 years old, were divided into two groups based on their reproductive status. We identified 318 up-regulated DEGs and 43 down-regulated DEGs, which were enriched in 87 GO terms and 6 KEGG pathways. Additionally, we obtained 45 immune-related genes with altered expression, mostly up-regulated, and identified four hub genes HSPA4, SUGT1, SOD1, and IL1B in PPI analysis. These 45 genes were related to pattern recognition receptors, autophagy, peroxisome, proteasome, natural killer cell, antigen processing and presentation. SUGT1 and IL1B were related to pattern recognition receptors. HSP90AA1 was the most up-regulated gene and is a member of heat shock protein 90 family. HSP90 contributes to the translocation of extracellular antigen. KLRD1 encodes CD94, whose complex is an inhibitor of the cytotoxic activity of NK cells, was down-regulated. IGIP, which has the capability of inducing IgA production by B cells, was down-regulated, suggesting low concentration of IgA in male giant pandas. Our results suggest that most immune-related genes were up-regulated and more related to innate immune than adaptive immune. Conclusions: Our results indicated that breeding male giant pandas presented an immunoenhancement in innate immunity, enhanced antigen presentation and processing in cellular immunity compared to non-breeding males. The humoral immunity of male giant pandas may show a tendency to decrease during the breeding season. This study will provide a foundation for further studies of immunity and reproduction in male giant pandas.

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Anogenital gland secretions code for sex and age in the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z04-144 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 82 (10) ◽

pp. 1596-1604 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Hong Yuan ◽

Dingzhen Liu ◽

Lixing Sun ◽

Rongping Wei ◽

Guiquan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Giant Panda ◽

Fatty Acid Esters ◽

Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Analog Form ◽

Males And Females ◽

Relative Abundances ◽

Anogenital Gland Secretions ◽

Acid Esters ◽

Form Information

Anogenital gland secretions play a major role in chemical communication by giant pandas, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (David, 1869). We analyzed 45 samples of anogenital gland secretions collected from 24 captive pandas (5 male adults, 6 female adults, 6 male subadults, and 7 female subadults) by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The secretions contained over 95 compounds. Based on 56 common compounds (relative abundances >0.1%) shared by more than three individuals, we identified steroids, long-chain fatty acids, fatty-acid esters, aldehydes, alkanes, alkenes, amines, terpenes, and furans. The chemical composition of each secretion was individual-specific. Although none of these individual compounds was age- or sex-specific, the relative abundances of several compounds differed between males and females and between adults and subadults. This result shows that information about sex and age could be coded in analog form. Information about age but not gender could also be digitally coded by the presence or absence of some of the 56 compounds, in addition to the analog coding.

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Reproductive biology of two sympatric colubrid snakes, Chironius flavolineatus and Chironius quadricarinatus, from the Brazilian Cerrado domain

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/017353710x518423 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 463-473 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Roberta Richard Pinto ◽

Otavio Augusto Vuolo Marques ◽

Ronaldo Fernandes

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Biology ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

Egg Production ◽

Sympatric Species ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Reproductive Pattern ◽

Brazilian Cerrado ◽

Wet Season ◽

Reproductive Cycles ◽

First Time

AbstractThe reproductive biology of Chironius flavolineatus and C. quadricarinatus from the Brazilian Cerrado domain is described, including sexual maturity, female fecundity, and reproductive cycles of males and females. Egg-laying is recorded here for the first time for C. quadricarinatus. Males of both species attain sexual maturity with a smaller snout-vent length than females. Females of C. flavolineatus have an extended reproductive cycle with egg production during the wet season, whereas males exhibit year-round sperm production. Chironius quadricarinatus has continuous reproductive cycles in both sexes. Differences in reproductive pattern between these two sympatric species are probably related to phylogenetic constraints on intrageneric lineages of Chironius.

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Differential Activation of Fetal Hofbauer Cells in Primigravidas Is Associated with Decreased Birth Weight in Symptomatic Placental Malaria

Malaria Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2019/1378174 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Stephanie L. Gaw ◽

Bethann S. Hromatka ◽

Sadiki Ngeleza ◽

Sirirak Buarpung ◽

Nida Ozarslan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Placental Malaria ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Protective Role ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Macrophage Response ◽

Hofbauer Cells ◽

Infant Birth ◽

First Time

Background. Placental malaria is a leading global cause of low birth weight neonates, especially in first-time mothers. To better understand the role of innate immunity in placental malaria, we investigated the relationships between histopathological markers of placental malaria, fetal and maternal macrophage responses, and perinatal outcomes in a cross-sectional case control study of pregnant women presenting with symptomatic malaria at the time of delivery. Results. Primigravidas showed increased hemozoin deposition in placental villi (p=0.02), syncytiotrophoblasts (p=0.01), and fetal Hofbauer cells (p=0.01). The percentage of hemozoin-positive villi negatively correlated with infant birth weight (regression coefficient [b] = -0.03 kg decrease in birth weight per % increase in hemozoin-positive villi, p=0.035). Malaria-infected placentas showed a twofold increase in Hofbauer cells (p<0.001) and maternal macrophages (p<0.001). Placental malaria was associated with a threefold increase in the percentage of M2 maternal macrophages (19.2% vs 6.4%, p=0.01). Primigravidas showed a significant decrease in the Hofbauer cell M2-percentage in placental malaria (92.7% vs. 97.0%, p=0.04), which was predictive of infant birth weight (b=0.08 kg increase in birth weight per % increase in M2 Hofbauer cells, p=0.001). There was no association between maternal macrophage response and infant birth weights. Conclusions. Placentas with malarial infection had increased numbers of fetal Hofbauer cells in the villous stroma and maternal macrophages in the intervillous space. In primigravidas, decreased anti-inflammatory M2-type Hofbauer cells were predictive of lower birth weight. M2-type maternal macrophages were increased in placental malaria, but there was no association with gravidity or birth weight. These results suggested a protective role of M2 Hofbauer cells in fetal growth restriction.

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Characterization and Analysis of Whole Transcriptome of Giant Panda Spleens: Implying Critical Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Immunity

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000488837 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 1065-1077 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rui Peng ◽

Yuliang Liu ◽

Zhigang Cai ◽

Fujun Shen ◽

Jiasong Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Giant Panda ◽

Pathological Condition ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Large Set ◽

Illumina Hiseq ◽

Protein Coding ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Functional Roles ◽

Non Coding Rnas ◽

Mirna Sponges

Background/Aims: Giant pandas, an endangered species, are a powerful symbol of species conservation. Giant pandas may suffer from a variety of diseases. Owing to their highly specialized diet of bamboo, giant pandas are thought to have a relatively weak ability to resist diseases. The spleen is the largest organ in the lymphatic system. However, there is little known about giant panda spleen at a molecular level. Thus, clarifying the regulatory mechanisms of spleen could help us further understand the immune system of the giant panda as well as its conservation. Methods: The two giant panda spleens were from two male individuals, one newborn and one an adult, in a non-pathological condition. The whole transcriptomes of mRNA, lncRNA, miRNA, and circRNA in the two spleens were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq platform. EBseq and IDEG6 were used to observe the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between these two spleens. Gene Ontology and KEGG analyses were used to annotate the function of DEGs. Furthermore, networks between non-coding RNAs and protein-coding genes were constructed to investigate the relationship between non-coding RNAs and immune-associated genes. Results: By comparative analysis of the whole transcriptomes of these two spleens, we found that one of the major roles of lncRNAs could be involved in the regulation of immune responses of giant panda spleens. In addition, our results also revealed that microRNAs and circRNAs may have evolved to regulate a large set of biological processes of giant panda spleens, and circRNAs may function as miRNA sponges. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of lncRNAs and circRNAs in giant panda, which could be a useful resource for further giant panda research. Our study reveals the potential functional roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in giant panda spleen.

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Mori Ramulus (Chin.Ph.)—the Dried Twigs of Morus alba L./Part 1: Discovery of Two Novel Coumarin Glycosides from the Anti-Hyperuricemic Ethanol Extract

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24030629 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 629

Author(s):

Jianbiao Yao ◽

Houhong He ◽

Jin Xue ◽

Jianfang Wang ◽

Huihui Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Ethanol Extract ◽

Accurate Method ◽

Morus Alba ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Bioactive Constituents ◽

Antiplatelet Aggregation ◽

Pharmacologically Active ◽

First Time ◽

Tof Ms

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Mori ramulus (Chin.Ph.)—the dried twigs of Morus alba L.—is extensively used as an antirheumatic agent and also finds additional use in asthma therapy. As a pathological high xanthine oxidase (XO, EC 1.1.3.22) activity is strongly correlated to hyperuricemy and gout, standard anti-hyperuremic therapy typically involves XO inhibitors like allopurinol, which often cause adverse effects by inhibiting other enzymes involved in purine metabolism. Mori ramulus may therefore be a promissing source for the development of new antirheumatic therapeutics with less side effects. Coumarins, one of the dominant groups of bioactive constituents of M. alba, have been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet aggregation, antitumor, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities. The combination of HPLC (DAD) and Q-TOF technique could give excellent separating and good structural characterization abilities which make it suitable to analyze complex multi-herbal extracts in TCM. The aim of this study was to develop a HPLC (DAD)/ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS method for the identification and profiling of pharmacologically active coumarin glycosides in Mori ramulus refined extracts for used in TCM. This HPLC (DAD)/ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS method provided a rapid and accurate method for identification of coumarin glycosides—including new natural products described here for the first time—in the crude extract of M. alba L. In the course of this project, two novel natural products moriramulosid A (umbelliferone-6-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside) and moriramulosid B (6-[[6-O-(6-deoxy-α-l-mannopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]oxy]-2H-1-benzopyran-1-one) were newly discovered and the known natural product Scopolin was identified in M. alba L. for the first time.

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The effect of stellar activity on the spectroscopic stellar parameters of the young solar twin HIP 36515

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters ◽

10.1093/mnrasl/slz153 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 490 (1) ◽

pp. L86-L90 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jhon Yana Galarza ◽

Jorge Meléndez ◽

Diego Lorenzo-Oliveira ◽

Adriana Valio ◽

Henrique Reggiani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Effective Temperature ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Activity Cycle ◽

Magnetic Activity ◽

Resolving Power ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Chemical Abundances ◽

Stellar Activity ◽

Time Variations ◽

First Time

ABSTRACT Spectroscopic equilibrium allows us to obtain precise stellar parameters in Sun-like stars. It relies on the assumption of the iron excitation and ionization equilibrium. However, several works suggest that magnetic activity may affect chemical abundances of young active stars, calling into question the validity of this widely used method. We have tested, for the first time, variations in stellar parameters and chemical abundances for the young solar twin HIP 36515 (∼0.4 Gyr), along its activity cycle. This star has stellar parameters very well established in the literature and we estimated its activity cycle in ∼6 yr. Using HARPS spectra with high resolving power (115 000) and signal-to-noise ratio (∼270), the stellar parameters of six different epochs in the cycle were estimated. We found that the stellar activity is strongly correlated with the effective temperature, metallicity, and microturbulence velocity. The possibility of changes in the Li i 6707.8 Å line due to flares and star-spots was also investigated. Although the core of the line profile shows some variations with the stellar cycle, it is compensated by changes in the effective temperature, resulting in a non-variation of the Li abundance.

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Giant panda conservation science: how far we have come

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2009.0786 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 143-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Ronald R. Swaisgood ◽

Fuwen Wei ◽

David E. Wildt ◽

Andrew J. Kouba ◽

Zejun Zhang

Keyword(s):

Conservation Biology ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Giant Panda ◽

Direct Application ◽

Conservation Science ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

The Past ◽

Habitat Recovery ◽

Lost Time ◽

Science To Management

The giant panda is a conservation icon, but science has been slow to take up its cause in earnest. In the past decade, researchers have been making up for lost time, as reflected in the flurry of activity reported at the symposium Conservation Science for Giant Pandas and Their Habitat at the 2009 International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) in Beijing. In reports addressing topics ranging from spatial ecology to molecular censusing, from habitat recovery in newly established reserves to earthquake-induced habitat loss, from new insights into factors limiting carrying capacity to the uncertain effects of climate change, this symposium displayed the vibrant and blossoming application of science to giant panda conservation. Collectively, we find that we have come a long way, but we also reach an all-too-familiar conclusion: the more we know, the more challenges are revealed. While many earlier findings are supported, many of our assumptions are debatable. Here we discuss recent advancements in conservation science for giant pandas and suggest that the way forward is more direct application of emerging science to management and policy.

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