Artificial Insemination and Stillbirth in a Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Abstract

At the Kobe Municipal Oji Zoo, a female giant panda was artificially inseminated three times during the estrous period of 2007 using fresh and refrigerated semen. Urinary concentrations of estrone-3-glucuronide were monitored to estimate the appropriate time for artificial insemination. Urinary concentrations of pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) were monitored to determine luteal function and to estimate the timing of delivery or end of pseudopregnancy. During late pregnancy period, the urinary PdG showed large oscillations which was not shown in the previous 6 years. The female occurred stillbirth in 9 days after the rupture of fetal membranes, that is on 137 days after the last artificial insemination.