SEASONAL CHANGES OF PROGESTERONE AND TESTOSTERONE CONTENTS IN HAIR OF GIANT PANDAS*

Guo Dazhi，

Liu Xianyi，

Chen Faju，

Song Xuehua，

Wang Kairong，

Qiu Xianmeng，

Tang Chunxiang，

Zhang Hemin，

He Tingmei，

Chen Meng，

Zhang Guiquan

Nuclear Science and Techniques

Vol.05, No.01

pp.1-6

Published in print 01 Feb 1994

34600

Seasonal changes of progesterone content (PSC) in hair of three female giant pandas and testosterone content (TSC) in hair of two male giant pandas were tested. It was found that the two hormones could be detected by radioimmunoassay in all the hair samples scissored from the female and male giant pandas respectively. During March to early June, PSC in two non-pregnent giant pandas ( $\bar{x}$ ± SD = 13.40 ± 10.06 and 10.60 ± 8.88 ng / g hair respectively) were higher than those in non-breeding season (3.07 ± 1.07 and 3.20 ± 1.15 ng / g, P<0.01). PSC in a 18-year-old female giant panda remained at low levels (2.72 ± 1.49 ng / g) during March to December. In a twin-bear giant panda, PSC (6.77 ± 3.66 ng / g) appeared higher than that in non-pregnant giant pandas in non-breeding season. Around February to the end of May, TSC in two male giant pandas (1.89 ± 1.71 and 1.82 ± 1.04 ng / g respectively) were also higher than that in non-breeding season (0.98 ± 0.57 and 0.75 ± 0.39 ng / g, P<0.01). The findings from the study implied that giant panda's hair is possible to be used as a specimen to carry out steroids research in the endangered species.

Giant pandaHairProgesteroneTestosteroneRadioimmunoassay

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