| Title: | Simultaneous choice bioassays accompanied by physiological changes identify civetone and decanoic acid as pheromone candidates for giant pandas |
| Author(s): | Wilson AE; Sparks DL; Knott KK; Willard S; Brown A; |
| Address: | "Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi. Department of Conservation and Research, Memphis Zoological Society, Memphis, Tennessee. Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, Mississippi State University, Mississippi. Resource Science Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health Unit, Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center, Columbia, Missouri" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1098-2361 (Electronic) 0733-3188 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Chemicals present in urine are thought to play an important role in mate identification in the solitary giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). During the breeding season, females will deposit chemical signals to advertise sexual receptivity to potential mates. The goal of this study was to determine if specific volatile compounds found in female urine could be considered as pheromones that elicit behavioral and physiological responses in males. Experimental simultaneous choice trials were conducted with captive male giant pandas (n = 3) housed at Memphis Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and Zoo Atlanta. Octanoic acid, 1H-pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde, decanoic acid, and civetone were selected as stimuli because previous studies reported their elevation in urine during the breeding season. Male interest was determined by a behavioral preference toward these volatile compounds diluted in synthetic urine compared with nontreated synthetic urine. Male urine samples were collected 1 week prior, during, and 1 week after the experimental period to assess changes in urinary semiochemical composition and urinary androgen concentrations. No significant differences in investigation response (p = .395) or flehmen response (p = .600) were found when stimuli were compared; however, decanoic acid and civetone elicited a behavioral preference over the control (response ratio > 0.5). The relative abundance of 16 compounds identified in male urine was significantly elevated (p < .05) above baseline values after the males were exposed to the stimuli. Androgen levels were significantly elevated (p < .05) in one male after exposure to 1H-pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde, decanoic acid, and civetone. These data suggested that civetone and decanoic acid in female urine may motivate sexual responses in males" |
| Keywords: | Androgens/urine Animals Biological Assay Choice Behavior/physiology Cycloparaffins/*pharmacology Decanoic Acids/*pharmacology Male Pheromones/chemistry/*pharmacology Urine/chemistry Ursidae/physiology/*urine behavior giant panda pheromone reproduction; |
| Notes: | "MedlineWilson, Abbey E Sparks, Darrell L Knott, Katrina K Willard, Scott Brown, Ashli eng 07-DG-11132762-236/International Programs, US Forest Service/ CTD 6-17-2016/Memphis Zoological Society/ 2020/01/11 Zoo Biol. 2020 May; 39(3):176-185. doi: 10.1002/zoo.21532. Epub 2020 Jan 10" |
