Kirsten Wilson

The University of Edinburgh | UoE · MRC Centre for Reproductive Health

Reproductive monitoring for captive breeding in giant pandas is based on behavioural observation and non-invasive hormone analysis. In urine, interpretation of results requires normalisation due to an animal’s changing hydration. Correction of urinary concentrations based on creatinine is the gold standard. In this study, a largely unexplored, easy...

Female giant pandas show complex reproductive traits, being seasonally monoestrus, displaying a variable length embryonic diapause and exhibiting pseudopregnancy. Currently, there is no confirmatory non-invasive biomarker of blastocyst implantation or pregnancy. This study aimed to monitor urinary estrogens across gestation in pregnancy (n = 4), ps...

Graphical abstract: Abstract: Giant pandas are mono-estrus seasonal breeders, with the breeding season typically occurring in the spring. Successful fertilization is followed by an embryonic diapause, of variable length, with birth in the late summer/autumn. There is a need for additional understanding of giant panda reproductive physiology, and...

The giant panda reproductive physiology shows important similarities with at least six of the eight existing bear species: the occurrence of diapause and/or pseudopregnancy is commonly described in bears. Nevertheless, significant differences including the earlier breeding season with - in general - a single estrus, a shorter delay of implantation...

Testicular Leydig cells (LCs) are the principal source of circulating testosterone in males. LC steroidogenesis maintains sexual function, fertility and general health, and is influenced by various paracrine factors. The leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) is expressed in the testis and activated by different ligands, including leukemia inhi...

Background: Basic military training (BMT) is a useful model of prolonged exposure to multiple stressors. 8-12 week BMT is associated with perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which could predispose recruits to injury and psychological strain. However, characterisations of HPA axis adaptations during BMT have not been comp...

Preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Infection and inflammation are frequent antecedents of spontaneous preterm birth. Cathelicidin, an antimicrobial host defence peptide, is induced by infection and inflammation and although expressed in the reproductive tract an...

Urinary concentrations of the major progesterone (P4) metabolite pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PDG) are used to confirm ovulation. We aimed to determine whether automated immunoassay of urinary P4 was as efficacious as PDG to confirm ovulation. Daily urine samples from 20 cycles in 14 healthy women in whom ovulation was dated by ultrasound, and seria...

Faeces, oestrogen and progesterone oestrus profiles (normalised with creatinine and USpG) for Tian TianSB569 (2013, 2015–2017). (TIF)

Faeces, oestrogen and progesterone full-cycle profiles (normalised with creatinine and USpG) for Tian TianSB569 (2013, 2015–2017). (TIF)

Descriptives for Tian Tian’s 2014 reproductive cycle (SB569): USpG-, creatinine-corrected and raw metabolite concentration, USpG-values and creatinine concentrations in urine, faecal output and bodyweight. Stdev = standard deviation; n = number of samples; USpG = urinary specific gravity; cr = creatinine. Different superscripts (a-d; ascending; hor...

Descriptives for Tian Tian’s 2016 reproductive cycle (SB569): USpG-, creatinine-corrected and raw metabolite concentration, USpG-values and creatinine concentrations in urine, faecal output and bodyweight. Stdev = standard deviation; n = number of samples; USpG = urinary specific gravity; cr = creatinine. Different superscripts (a-d; ascending; hor...

Descriptives for Tian Tian’s 2017 reproductive cycle (SB569): USpG-, creatinine-corrected and raw metabolite concentration, USpG-values and creatinine concentrations in urine, faecal output and bodyweight. Stdev = standard deviation; n = number of samples; USpG = urinary specific gravity; cr = creatinine. Different superscripts (a-d; ascending; hor...

Descriptives for Tian Tian’s 2013 reproductive cycle (SB569): USpG-, creatinine-corrected and raw metabolite concentration, USpG-values and creatinine concentrations in urine, faecal output and bodyweight. Stdev = standard deviation; n = number of samples; USpG = urinary specific gravity; cr = creatinine. Different superscripts (a-d; ascending; hor...

Descriptives for Tian Tian’s 2015 reproductive cycle (SB569): USpG-, creatinine-corrected and raw metabolite concentration, USpG-values and creatinine concentrations in urine, faecal output and bodyweight. Stdev = standard deviation; n = number of samples; USpG = urinary specific gravity; cr = creatinine. Different superscripts (a-d; ascending; hor...