For Release: May 5, 2004
Media only:
Peper Long 
(202) 673-0206, (202) 390-8798
Sarah Taylor (202) 673-0209
Media Advisory – Giant Panda Update
What
Media availability
When
TODAY – Wednesday, May 5, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30
a.m.
Where
Outside giant panda yard, National Zoo
Who
- JoGayle Howard, D.V.M., Ph.D., Reproductive Scientist, National Zoo
- Sharon Deem, D.V.M., Associate Veterinarian, National Zoo
After two days of attempts, National Zoo’s giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian did not successfully mate this season. Late Sunday afternoon, Zoo researchers and animal-care staff vaginally inseminated female Mei Xiang, using a sample of Tian Tian’s semen that had been previously collected and frozen.
This particular insemination technique required no surgery or anesthesia. Zoo scientists used behavioral training techniques to position Mei Xiang so she could be inseminated. Such behavioral training allows Zoo staff to conduct several routine medical procedures on both Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, such as ultrasound and blood collection.
The process involved placing an insemination tube into Mei Xiang’s vagina, then transferring sperm from a syringe, through the tube, and into the vagina. Researchers inseminated approximately 1 billion sperm that had been frozen in 2003 using a cryopreservation method developed at the National Zoo.
Mei Xiang’s urine hormone analysis showed high estrogen on Friday and Saturday – the two days that Tian Tian showed interest in mating. By Saturday afternoon, Mei Xiang’s hormones began to decrease, a sign that ovulation had occurred and egg fertilization was possible.
By Sunday, Mei Xiang continued to display breeding behavior, but Tian Tian no longer showed interest. At this point, Zoo staff decided to try vaginal insemination. It is unlikely that a vaginal insemination will produce a cub, but researchers will learn more about the success or failure of this particular technique.
Vaginal insemination used with Mei Xiang is different from other types of artificial insemination. For example, uterine insemination deposits sperm directly into the animal’s uterus – a non-surgical procedure that requires anesthesia. The uterine method was used to produce Kandula, the Zoo’s 2-year-old Asian elephant. In the future, Zoo scientists may use the uterine method for artificial insemination with Mei Xiang.
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