Effects Of Preservation Methods On Four Fecal Steroids In Giant Panda With Reference To Application Analysis

Steroid hormone levels of the captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) can be detected effectively with non-invasive methods at present, and further monitored the reproduction and stress status of them. However, many aspects should be considered to applying these non-invasive methods to the field, such as the preservation methods, the effective storage time, etc. This paper discussed the effects of different preservation methods and dry methods on four fecal steroids in giant panda, and studied the effective storage time at room temperature after defecation also, aimed at establishing certain theoretical foundation of non-invasive endocrine monitoring for wild giant panda. The main results are showed as follows:1. Fecal testosterone and cortisol of the male giant panda, and the testosterone of female could be kept effectively for 12 hours at room temperature after defecation. The cortisol of the female could be stored for 16 hours, and estradiol for 24 hours. However, the effective storage time of fecal progesterone should be less than 8 hours.2. Fecal cortisol of the male could be stored effectively for 15 day, and estradiol of the female for 45 days in 95% ethanol treatment; fecal estradiol of the female could be effectively stored for 45 days with oven-drying treatment (90℃, 3-4 hours) at room temperature, compared with the control samples that being lyophilized and extracted immediately. It is practically considered on basis of the data stability as well as field work, the relative values of fecal testosterone, cortisol and estradiol could be used in comparisons between groups as being preserved in the same circumstances of treatment within 60 days. The methods for storing fecal progesterone, however, address further studies. 3. The conventional oven drying method varied most of the fecal steroids significantly, except for the male cortisol and female estradiol of the frozen samples, and the female progesterone stored with 95% ethanol. When condition allowed, lyophilization method is the better way to drying both kinds of storage feces.4. In March - May of 2007, the fecal testosterone concentrations of male giant panda "Da Di" of the Beijing Zoo increased during behavioural oestrus, and was on peaking value (9.06 ng/g) of May 5, then dropped to the basic level again after oestrus. Female individual "Niu Niu " appeared no obvious oestrus behavior in 2007, and the estradiol levels did not presented obvious rising either, and presented an irregular change.5. With the obvious rising of tourists, the fecal cortisol concentrations increased significantly both of male and female giant panda during May Day golden week. There were significant correlation between the cortisol concentration of male and the previous-day tourists number, and very significant correlation between the cortisol concentration of female and previous-day tourists number.