The presence of α-glucosidase, glycerophosphocholine and carnitine in the epididymis and ejaculate of the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) and the Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus)

Summary.  The epididymis is the site of post-testicular sperm maturation in the male genital tract. Studies on human epididymides are hampered by the practical inaccessibility of epididymides of healthy men in their reproductive years. The limited use of laboratory animals therefore seems unavoidable. The objective was to establish baseline values of the epididymal markers α-glucosidase, glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and carnitine in the lumen of the caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis and in the ejaculate of adult male Chacma baboons and vervet monkeys. In both primates, α-glucosidase was found throughout the epididymis and in the ejaculate; values did not vary significantly. In monkeys, the highest concentration of GPC was found in the cauda epididymidis, but smaller amounts were found in the other regions and the ejaculate. In baboons, GPC was absent from the caput, but present in the other regions, including the ejaculate. Carnitine concentrations increased significantly from the caput to the cauda in monkeys and from the caput to the corpus in baboons. With this study, the relative concentration ranges in which these markers are present in the epididymides of these primates have been established. In future studies, changes in concentrations of these substances would probably indicate changes in epididymal function.     

Excessive light sensitivity in Papio papio: its variation with age, sex, and geographic origin.

Excessive sensitivity (levels 3 and 4) in a population of 1,122 Papio papio was related with age, sex, and geographical origin. (1) Age. There was no clinical response to intermittent light stimulation under the age of 5 months. These was no difference between animals 6 months to 2 years (J1) and those aged 2 to 4 years (J2). Adult females were less often light sensitive (levels 3 and 4 = 32.9%) than immature females (52.4%). Adult males could usually not be tested, but were probably less often sensitive than immature males. (2) Sex. Immature females (J1 + J2) were more often light sensitive (52.4%) than immature males (38.1%). (3) Geographical origin. No animals from East Senegal (Sansande Region) were very light sensitive. Animals from Casamance were more often light sensitive (56.2%) than those from the Niokolo-Koba National Park (N.K.N.P.) (20%). Of two samples taken at one spot between these two regions, one group resembled the population from Casamance and the second resembled that from the N.K.N.P. This observation raises several questions about the respective roles of genetic, ecological, and ethological factors.     

In vivo detection of short- and long-term MDMA neurotoxicity—a positron emission tomography study in the living baboon brain

The present study evaluated short- and long-term effects of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) in the baboon brain using PET and [¹¹C](+)McN 5652, a potent 5-HT transporter ligand, as well as [¹¹C]RTI-55, a cocaine derivative which labels both 5-HT and dopamine transporters. Following baseline PET scans with [¹¹C](+)McN5652, [¹¹C](−)McN5652 (the inactive enantiomer of the active enantiomer [¹¹C](+)McN5652) and [¹¹C]RTI-55, a baboon was treated with MDMA (5 mg/kg, s.c., twice daily for four consecutive days). PET studies at 13, 19, and 40 days post-MDMA revealed decreases in mean radioactivity levels in all brain regions when using [¹¹C](+)McN 5652, but not with [¹¹C](−)McN5652 or [¹¹C]RTI-55. Reductions in specific [¹¹C](+)McN5652 binding (calculated as the difference in radioactivity concentrations between (+) and (−)[¹¹C]McN5652) ranged from 44% in the pons to 89% in the occipital cortex. PET studies at 9 and 13 months showed regional differences in the apparent recovery of 5-HT transporters, with increases in some brain regions (e.g., hypothalamus) and persistent decreases in others (e.g., neocortex). Data obtained from PET studies correlated well with regional 5-HT axonal marker concentrations in the CNS measured after sacrifice of the animal. The results of these studies indicate that PET imaging of the living nonhuman primate brain with [¹¹C](+)McN 5652 can detect changes in regional 5-HT transporter density secondary to MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. Using PET, it should also be feasible to use [¹¹C](+)McN5652 to determine whether human MDMA users are also susceptible to MDMA's neurotoxic effects. Synapse 29:183–192, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

黑草莓冻干粉化学成分研究

从黑草莓（Rubus ursinus L.)果实冻干粉的正丁醇提取部分分离得到3个化合物,经理化鉴定及波谱分析,鉴定其分别为Δ^5,22-豆甾烯醇,β－谷甾醇和β－谷甾醇－β－葡萄糖苷,此三个化合物均有首次从黑草莓冻干粉中分离得到。     

The role of the endocrine system in baboon maternal behavior.

BACKGROUND: Human mothers display a wide range of parenting skills, and although we have gathered a large body of evidence on a variety of factors affecting maternal behavior, we still know relatively little about the physiologic correlates of variation in parental behavior in primates. METHODS: Excreted gonadal and adrenal steroids were measured across parturition in a large sample (n = 89) of group-living female baboons. Maternal behavior data were collected during the first 2 months of infants' life. RESULTS: We found that changes in the excreted sex steroid hormones and cortisol were associated with baboon mothers' infant-directed behaviors. Mothers who displayed more stress-related behaviors, who were also prone to maintain less contact with their infants, had higher postpartum cortisol levels, higher prepartum pregnanediol-3-glucoronide (PdG) levels, and lower postpartum PdG levels. Mothers with higher prepartum cortisol levels showed higher levels of infant-directed affiliative behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: These results point toward the importance of the whole endocrine system as a functional unit in terms of enhancing maternal care in primates. The dramatic physiologic changes occurring across parturition may act, in coordination with the cognitive-experiential system, to help the mother cope with the additional challenges imposed by the newborn.     

Immunology: Anti-endometrial lymphocytotoxicity and natural killer cell activity in baboons (Papio anubis and Papio cynocephalus) with endometriosis

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that anti-endometrial,lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity and natural killer (NK) activityare reduced in baboons with endometriosis when compared to animalswith a normal pelvis. Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was determinedin 28 baboons (15 with endometriosis, 13 with normal pelvis)and NK cell activity was evaluated in 42 baboons (31 with endometriosis,11 with normal pelvis). Anti-endometrial lymphocyte-mediatedcytotoxicity was determined by a 20 h assay with effector-targetratios of 50: 1 and 25: 1. The NK activity (K562 cell line astarget) was simultaneously measured in all animals during a4 h assay with effector:target ratios of 200: 1, 100: 1, 50:1, 25: 1, 12: 1, 6: 1 and 3: 1. Statistical analysis was performedusing analysis of variance, paired rank, Mann—Whitney,Kruskal—Wallis and Fisher exact tests where appropriate.Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly lower (P< 0.025) in baboons with endometriosis (mean 5.9 ±8.7 %, median 0%, range 0–26%) than in animals with anormal pelvis (mean 22.9 ± 23.0 %, median 7%, range 0–78%). This difference could be explained by the absence of cytotoxicityin baboons with moderate to severe endometriosis, probably dueto high spontaneous release of ⁵¹Cr from labelled target cells.When stricter criteria were used and only animals with a labellingindex (maximal/spontaneous release) of 1.7 were analysed (n= 11), the anti-endometrial cytotoxicity was comparable betweenbaboons with and without endometriosis. NK cell activity wasalso comparable in primates with and without endometriosis.In conclusion, no difference in lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicityand NK cell activity was observed between baboons with and withoutendometriosis.     

The Baboon (Papio spp.) as a Model of Human Ebola Virus Infection

Baboons are susceptible to natural Ebola virus (EBOV) infection and share 96% genetic homology with humans. Despite these characteristics, baboons have rarely been utilized as experimental models of human EBOV infection to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactics and therapeutics in the United States. This review will summarize what is known about the pathogenesis of EBOV infection in baboons compared to EBOV infection in humans and other Old World nonhuman primates. In addition, we will discuss how closely the baboon model recapitulates human EBOV infection. We will also review some of the housing requirements and behavioral attributes of baboons compared to other Old World nonhuman primates. Due to the lack of data available on the pathogenesis of Marburg virus (MARV) infection in baboons, discussion of the pathogenesis of MARV infection in baboons will be limited.     

Mortality in captive baboons with seizures: A new model for SUDEP?

Because the baboon is a model of primary generalized epilepsy, we were interested in mortality of captive animals with a history of witnessed seizures. Causes of natural death were investigated in 46 seizure baboons (SZ) and 78 nonepileptic controls (CTL), all of which underwent a complete pathologic examination at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR) in San Antonio. SZ animals died at a younger age than the control baboons (p < 0.001). Almost all epileptic baboons that died suddenly without an apparent cause (SZ-UKN), had pulmonary congestion or edema without evidence of trauma, systemic illness, or heart disease, compared to nine controls (12%) (p < 0.001), most of which demonstrated evidence of a concurrent illness. Serosanguineous bronchial secretions were found in 15 SZ-UKN baboons (58%), but in only three controls (4%) (p < 0.001). Chronic multifocal fibrotic changes in myocardium were noted in only three (12%) of SZ-UKN baboons and one control baboon. Based upon these results, untreated seizures appear to reduce the life expectancy of captive baboons. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) may be a common cause of natural death in epileptic baboons.