Abstract: In order to explore the difference of metabolites in giant panda urine, 20 cases of giant panda urine metabolites were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS), and differences in urine metabolites were analyzed according to gender and age. As results, 12 metabolites with significant difference （P＜0.05）were identified between the gender group, and the relative expression of 11 metabolites except for apigenin was higher in male urine. A total of 25 significantly different metabolites （P＜0.05） were identified between the sub-adult group and the adult group. Only the relative expression levels of riboflavin and arginine were higher in the urine of the sub-adult giant panda. Ten significantly different metabolites （P＜0.05）were identified between the sub-adult group and the geratic group, and three significantly different metabolites were identified between the adult group and the geratic group. The relative expression of these substances was higher in the urine of elderly individuals. These metabolites with significant differences were mainly concentrated in the amino acid metabolism pathway, the biosynthesis pathway of secondary metabolites and the biosynthesis pathway of flavones, flavonols and flavonoids. The urine metabolites of giant pandas of different genders and ages were analyzed in this study.The differential metabolites obtained by screening can provide a theoretical basis for the study of chemical communication mechanism and physiological function of giant pandas.

Key words: giant panda, differential metabolites, metabolic pathway, biosynthetic pathway； metabonomics； chemical communication