A Study On Relationship Between Oxytocin And Maternal Behavior In Captive Giant Pandas

The formation of the mother-cub relationship is closely related to the maternal behavior,which is related to the amount of maternal care and even affects the cognitive development of the cubs.These behaviors are often associated with oxytocin.Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that promotes social bonding in animals and plays an important role in mother-cub bonding.At the time of birth,the giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)cubs are still not fully developed,eyes closed,no independent walking ability.Therefore,the good mother-cub relationship and correct maternal care play a vital role in the development of their cubs.In order to understand the distribution characteristics and physiological changes of maternal behavior of giant pandas during breeding,in June 2019-February 2021,we scan sampled the maternal behavior of 10 adult female giant pandas at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding by using the focal sampling method.We also tested the urine oxytocin level of each individual by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The results showed that:(1)The oxytocin level of lactation giant pandas was significantly higher than that of non-lactation giant pandas.The level of oxytocin in the multiparous female pandas was significantly lower than that in the primiparous female pandas.(2)For 0-45 days,embracing cubs behavior of multiparous individuals was significantly higher than primiparous individuals,licking cubs behavior and position adjustment was significantly lower than primiparous individuals,there were no significant differences in other behaviors,such as adjusting the posture,grooming and nibbling cubs and putting away cubs;The feeding behavior of primiparous individuals was significantly lower than that of multiparous individuals,and there were no significant differences in exploring,resting,moving,grooming and other behaviors.During the cub age of 46-90 d,licking cubs behavior and position adjustment of primiparous individuals were significantly higher than multiparous individuals,putting away cubs behavior was significantly lower than multiparous individuals,there were no significant differences in embracing cubs,adjusting posture,grooming and nibbling cub;the moving behavior of primiparous individuals was significantly higher than that of multiparous individuals,and the grooming behavior of primiparous individuals was significantly lower than that of multiparous individuals.There were no significant differences in feeding,exploring resting and other behaviors.With the cubs developing,the embracing cub behavior of primiparous female giant pandas decreased obviously,but the licking cub behavior increased obviously,the larger variation range of multiparous female giant pandas was embracing cub behavior and putting away cub behavior,but the variation range of other types of behavior was small.The feeding behavior of primiparous female giant pandas increased,while the moving behavior decreased,the variation of other individuals’ behavior was small.The feeding behavior of multiparous female giant pandas increased and the exploring behavior decreased,while the other behaviors changed little.(3)Between maternal behavior and oxytocin,oxytocin levels and licking cub behavior showed significant positive correlation,and embracing cub behavior was significant negative correlation,but nibbling cubs,posture adjustment,grooming,position adjustment,putting away cubs,there is no correlation.About individual behavior,all behavior types were independent of oxytocin levels,such as feeding,exploring,grooming,resting,moving,and other behaviors.Primiparous female giant pandas showed more maternal behavior,less individual behavior and higher levels of oxytocin than multiparous female giant pandas.We are fully understood the panda maternal behavior characteristics,on the basis of further research on giant panda during the brood(oxytocin)expression of hormone.The study helps to fill the blank of the oxytocin in the giant panda research and provide physical basis for maternal behavior of giant pandas,and it has a positive influence on the growth and development of captive giant panda and population reproduction.