Spontaneous hyperthyroidism in an aged male and female Macaca mulatta

A 31-year-old male and a 31-year-old female rhesus monkey developed clinical signs consistent with hyperthryoidism. These included a ravenous appetite, hyperactivity, and accentuated ratchet movement and hand tremors while performing fine motor tasks. Bilaterally enlarged thyroid glands were palpated in both monkeys. A unique clinical finding of the female as the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The T3 and T4 levels in the male rhesus were 3.79 ng/ml and 28.20 microg/dl, respectively. T3 and T4 levels in the female were 4.33 ng/ml and 22.2 microg/dl, respectively. A biopsy of the enlarged thyroids demonstrated a typical multinodular goiter with cystic hyperplasia. The female rhesus was successfully treated with methimazole, but the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy did not resolve. The relationship between erythrocytosis and T4 levels common to humans and cats is also evident in the rhesus monkey.     

The conjugation of tyramine with sulphate by liver and intestine of different animals.

Tyramine was conjugated with sulphate by extracts of monkey intestine and livers of monkey, rat, mouse, guinea pig and man. The activity measured in monkey intestine was almost three times that of monkey liver. Labelled tyramine sulphate synthesized from [14C] tyramine, [3H] tyramine or Na235SO4, on acid hydrolysis, released its radioactive precursor. Liver extracts of monkey, rat, mouse and guinea pig synthesized respectively 145,66,21 and 6 pmol of [14C] tyramine sulphate/min per mg of protein. Except with the monkey, intestine exhibited very low activity. trans-2-Phenylcyclopropylamine, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, was added as a routine to the enzyme preparation, as its omission resulted in the production of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in appreciable amounts. This oxidative deamination of tyramine, however, did not decrease the sulpho-conjugation of tyramine. The low Km (9.1 muM) of sulphotransferase for tyramine is probably responsible.     

Human is a unique species among primates in terms of telomere length.

TRF (terminal restriction fragments) length in various tissues of non-human primates such as Macaca mulatta (rhesus monkey), Macaca fuscata (Japanese monkey), Macaca fascicularis (crab-eating monkey), Pan troglodytes (common chimpanzee), and Pongo pygmaeus (orangutan) was at least 23 kb without exception, which was quite different from that of human somatic tissues (smaller than 10 kb). The distribution pattern of telomerase activity among tissues was similar between human and non-human primates, while the activity level showed some differences such as that strong telomerase activity was observed in gastrointestinal and lymphocytic tissues from non-human primates. The human appears to be a unique species among primates in terms of telomere length.     

Localization of arylsulphatase in neurons

Abstract— Arylsulphatase activity, with 4-methylumbelliferone sulphate as substrate, was measured by a quantitative histochemical method in individual anterior horn nerve cell bodies and adjacent neuropil of man and monkey; and in molecular and granular layers and subjacent white matter of cerebellum of monkey, rat and guinea pig. The activity was much higher in neuronal perikarya than in neuropil, and higher in the granular layer of cerebellum than in the molecular or white matter, thus resembling the distinctive distribution, reported in monkey, of three other lysosomal enzymes, β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase and α-naphthyl acid phosphatase. One exception was encountered: the white matter of guinea pig cerebellum had more arysulphatase activity than the granular layer. For comparison, other lysosomal enzymes also were measured in rat and guinea pig cerebellum; in these species, α-naphthyl acid phosphatase distribution was found to differ from that of β-galactosidase and arysulphatase, and from the pattern common to four lysosomal enzymes in the monkey.     

The Distribution of Enzymes Which Synthesize Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate in Monkey, Rabbit, and Ground Squirrel Retinas

The activity of adenosinetriphosphate:nicotinamide adenylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.1) was measured in all the layers of monkey, rabbit, and ground squirrel retinas. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) kinase (EC 2.7.1.23) distribution was measured in monkey and rabbit retinas. An attempt was made to measure NAD synthetase (EC 6.3.5.1), but the activities in the retinal layers were too low to produce a reliable increment in the levels of endogenous NAD. In monkey retina the adenylyl transferase was highest by far in the outer and inner nuclear layers, lower and variable in ganglion cell and fiber layers, and almost absent elsewhere. Rabbit retina differed in that activity was nearly absent in the outer nuclear layer, whereas in the ground squirrel outer nuclear layer activity was double that of the inner nuclear layer. The species differences suggest that adenylyl transferase is almost absent from cone cell nuclei and high in rod cell nuclei. NAD kinase distribution in monkey retina was almost the mirror image of that of adenylyl transferase.     

白纹伊蚊对光线与二氧化碳的行为反应

白纹伊蚊Aedesalbopictus是重要的媒介昆虫 ,骚扰叮咬、传播病菌 ,严重危害人体健康。该文利用市场上流行的不同型号的 2种驱蚊灯和 4种诱蚊灯分别处理白纹伊蚊种群 ,观测其行为反应 ,结果表明白纹伊蚊在活动、取食和存活等方面均产生保护性行为反应。未照射 (CK)蚊子生长正常、活动性强、取食活跃、存活率高。除虫灯光线照射后 ,初期 ( 1d内 )蚊子活泼、活动量较大、存活率较高 ;前期 ( 1～ 3d间 )活动加剧、取食减少而存活率降低 ;一定时期 ( 3d)后活动性逐渐降低、取食越来越少、存活率明显下降。除虫效果检测表明 ,诱蚊灯的诱杀效果比驱蚊灯的驱逐作用对减少蚊虫的数量更明显 ;同时显示 ,诱蚊灯的灭蚊效果均较好 ,但诱蚊作用不十分理想。继而探索出一个对白纹伊蚊具有较好引诱效应的二氧化碳 (CO2 )浓度 4 464× 1 0 -4mol L ,并与紫外线诱蚊灯结合试验表明 ,一定浓度的CO2 能够显著提高诱蚊灯的诱杀效果 ,这可为开辟蚊虫物理防治新途径提供理论依据。     

Quantitation of sleep and spinal curvature in an unusually longevous owl monkey (Aotus azarae)

BACKGROUND: A table summarizing the primary literature on 19 species of longevous non-human primates, other than owl monkey, is presented. METHODS: We prospectively quantitated the sleep of a longevous female owl monkey (Aotus azarae), aged >30 years, longitudinally for 2 years and also evaluated the senility-induced change in spinal curvature. RESULTS: The mean daily total sleep time (TST) of this monkey ranged between 790 and 1106 minutes, and was markedly higher in comparison with its female progeny (aged 16 years and used as a control) whose daily TST during the same experimental period ranged between 612 and 822 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The calculated kyphotic index (KI) of 2.27 for this monkey, compared with the KIs 4.83 and 5.42, for its progeny and female grandprogeny (aged 1 year) respectively, confirmed the prominent spinal curvature.     

性成熟前食蟹猴生精细胞的发育进程

目的阐明性成熟前食蟹猴生精细胞的发育进程。方法分别采集性成熟前不同年龄（0岁、0.5岁、1岁、1.5岁、2岁、2.5岁、3岁、3.5岁、4岁）食蟹猴睾丸,制作石蜡切片,进行HE染色和PAS/H染色。根据生精细胞的染色特性,分析性成熟前食蟹猴生精细胞的发育进程,并对食蟹猴精原干细胞进行初步鉴定。结果 HE染色结果显示,1岁及以下食蟹猴生精上皮上生精细胞仅有精原干细胞（包括Ad、At及Ap型精原细胞）,1.5岁食蟹猴生精上皮上开始出现B型精原细胞,3岁食蟹猴生精上皮上出现精母细胞,4岁食蟹猴生精上皮上出现从精原干细胞到精子的所有生殖细胞。PAS/H染色结果显示,1～2.5岁食蟹猴Ad型精原细胞胞质呈PAS阳性,At型精原细胞胞质呈PAS弱阳性,Ap型精原细胞胞质呈PAS阴性;其他生精细胞及支持细胞胞质呈阴性;0.5岁及以下,3岁及以上食蟹猴生精细胞的胞质PAS/H染色特性与前者存在差异。结论本文详细阐述了性成熟前食蟹猴生精细胞随年龄增长的渐次性发育模式,并建立了性成熟前食蟹猴精原干细胞原位鉴定的一种新方法,这些研究结果为食蟹猴精原干细胞的其他相关研究奠定了基础。     

Presence of endogenous inhibitor of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase in monkey serum

Summary In the course of our studies on the developmental changes of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the serum of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata fuscata), we found the presence of an endogenous inhibitor of AADC in all stages of monkey life. This inhibitor inhibited the serum enzyme activity completely with L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) as substrate, while the activity was partially inhibited with L-DOPA as substrate. The inhibitor was non-dialyzable, but it could be removed from the monkey serum by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. After this treatment AADC activities could be detected in the monkey serum by using both L-DOPA and L-5-HTP as substrates. Moreover, the total activity for L-DOPA was augmented by 3-fold in the serum after the removal of the inhibitor. Serum AADC was partially purified from monkey and compared with that of rat using both L-DOPA and L-5-HTP as substrates, but the ratio of the activities for the two substrates did not change significantly in each fraction during purification from either monkey or rat serum.On leave from the University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.     

Calcium deprivation alters gustatory-evoked activity in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract

Calcium-deprived rats develop a compensatory appetite for substances that contain calcium. To investigate the role of gustatory factors in calcium appetite, we recorded the extracellular activity of single neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract of calcium-deprived and replete rats. The activity evoked by a broad array of taste stimuli was examined in 51 neurons from replete rats and 47 neurons from calcium-deprived rats. There were no differences between the groups in the responses of all neurons combined. However, neurons with sugar-oriented response profiles gave significantly larger responses to 3, 10, and 100 mM CaCl(2) in the calcium-deprived group than did corresponding cells in the replete group. This difference in taste-evoked responding may underlie an increase in the palatability of CaCl(2) and, in turn, contribute to the expression of calcium appetite.     

Determination of lactogenic activity in the serum of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) using the Nb2 lymphoma bioassay

Determination of squirrel monkey prolactin by immunoassay has been hampered by the lack of antiserum specific to prolactin from this species. As an alternate method, we have investigated whether the Nb2 lymphoma bioassay could be adapted for routine measurement of the lactogenic activity of samples of squirrel monkey serum. The growth of the Nb2 cells is absolutely dependent on the presence of lactogens in the culture medium. The cells were maintained in Fisher's medium supplemented with 10% horse serum, 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), and 10^?4M β-mercaptoethanol. For each assay, the cells were plated at an initial density of 1 × 10⁵ cells/ml in 22-mm 12-well dishes in the above medium, but devoid of FCS. Serum samples were heated to 56°C for 20 minutes to abolish the unusually high cytolytic complement activity of squirrel monkey serum and were incubated for 72 hours with Nb2 cells at serial dilutions from 1/40 to 1/2,560. Growth curves were generated with pooled samples of squirrel monkey serum, and the level of lactogenic activity was estimated using a calibration growth curve generated with known concentrations of purified rhesus monkey prolactin standard. We have found that the Nb2 lymphoma bioassay provides a sensitive and adaptable means for determination of lactogenic activity in the serum of the squirrel monkey.     

Disseminated lymphoma in a rhesus monkey: a case report.

A rhesus monkey was inoculated with rhesus cytomegalovirus. A leukocyte-associated herpes virus, unrelated to cytomegalovirus, was later isolated from the same monkey. Four years after the virus inoculation, the monkey developed a disseminated lymphoma.     

Calcium disodium edetate enhances type A monoamine oxidase activity in monkey brain

The effects of metal chelators on monoamine oxidase (MAO) isozymes, MAO-A and MAO-B, in monkey brain mitochondria were investigated in vitro. MAO-A activity increased to about 40% with 0.1 μM calcium disodium edetate (CaNa₂EDTA) using serotonin as a substrate, and this activation was proportional to the concentration of CaNa₂EDTA. On the other hand, MAO-A activities were decreased gradually with an increasing concentration of o-phenanthroline and diethyldithiocarbamic acid, but these metal chelators had no effect on MAO-B activity in monkey brain. The activation of MAO-A activity by CaNa₂EDTA was reversible. CaNa₂EDTA did not activate both MAO-A and MAO-B activities in rat brain mitochondria. Zn and Fe ions were found in the mitochondria of monkey brain. Zn ions potently inhibited MAO-A activity, but Fe ions did not inhibit either MAO-A or MAO-B activity in monkey brain mitochondria. These results indicate that the activating action of CaNa₂EDTA on MAO-A was the result of the chelating of Zn ions contained in mitochondria by CaNa₂EDTA. These results also indicate the possibility that Zn ions may regulate physiologically the level of serotonin and norepinephrine content in brain by inhibiting a MAO-A activity.     

Linkage relationship between the genes for thymidine kinase and galactokinase in different primates.

In this study we investigated the expression of primate galactokinase in somatic cell hybrids between a thymidine kinase-deficient mouse cell line and two different primate cell lines, one of which was derived from African green monkey kidney cells and the other from chimpanzee fibroblasts. All the African green monkey-mouse hybrid clones, selected in HAT medium, expressed monkey galactokinase activity and contained a monkey chromosome similar to a human E-group chromosome. When these clones were backselected in medium containing 5-bromodeoxyuridine, both this chromosome and the monkey galactokinase activity were lost. All the hybrid clones between mouse and chimpanzee cells, which were selected in HAT medium, contained the chimpanzee chromosome 17 and expressed chimpanzee galactokinase activity. These results indicate that the linkage relationship between galactokinase and thymidine kinase has been maintained in 3 divergent primate species--man, chimpanzee, and Old World monkey.     

Adrenal 11-hydroxylase activity in a hypercortisolemic New World primate: adaptive intra-adrenal changes

The squirrel monkey, a representative New World primate, has high plasma cortisol and aldosterone concentrations when compared to Old World primates. We measured adrenal mitochondrial 11-hydroxylase (11-OHase) activity in squirrel monkeys and in two representative Old World species (cynomolgus and rhesus macaques) in an effort to explain these elevated plasma glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid levels. The activity of 11-OHase was 5-fold higher in the squirrel monkey than in the Old World species tested. Calculated 11-OHase Vmax was different in the squirrel monkey and the cynomolgus. However, the Km values were similar in the New World primate when compared to cynomolgus. The ability of metyrapone to block 11-OHase was less in the former than in the latter. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the squirrel monkey adrenal cortex possesses an increased number of 11-hydroxylase enzyme units compared to that of Old World primate species, and is therefore more efficient in producing cortisol. This difference in 11-OHase activity in the squirrel monkey, in addition to other previously reported adrenal steroidogenic enzyme alterations, may be adaptive in nature, favoring increased cortisol and aldosterone production in this and possibly other New World primate species.     

秦岭川金丝猴对高海拔栖息地的某些生理适应

金丝猴是我国特有的灵长类,也是海拔分布最高(4 167m)的灵长类,从生理生态学角度研究金丝猴怎样适应高寒山区的生活,具有重要的科学意义．依据十几年的研究结果,并结合已发表的相关资料,从消化、呼吸、血液、循环、生殖几个方面探讨了金丝猴的指名亚种——川金丝猴对秦岭高海拔栖息地的适应及适应机制     

Molecular basis of albinism in the rhesus monkey

Sequence analysis of the tyrosinase (TYR) coding region from one albino rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) family revealed that the two monkeys with phenotype similar to human TYR-negative oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) were homozygous for a missense mutation (S184TER) in exon 1 at codon 184. The offspring of one of the albino monkey ("Kangkang") are all heterozygous for the S184TER mutation, but the S184TER mutation was not observed in 93 control individuals. We conclude that the point mutation is responsible and sufficient to generate the albino rhesus monkey phenotype. The rough age of the S184TER nonsense mutation may be about 0.8 million years using a rate of 0.16% per million years.     

人为干扰对神农架川金丝猴连通性及遗传多样性的影响

川金丝猴湖北种群是川金丝猴分布的最东缘,现主要分布于神农架国家公园和巴东自然保护区,其作为单独的管理单元,相对较低的遗传多样性、孤立的遗传状态和较小的种群数量,使得该种群面对环境变化脆弱性高。以神农架为研究区域,首先基于物种分布模型获得川金丝猴移动的阻力图层,利用电路理论分析适宜生境连接度;其次,设置道路和旅游两个人为干扰情景,运用最小费用距离模型与电路理论模型,分析道路和旅游活动对川金丝猴移动路径以及对不同亚群内和亚群间连通性的影响;最后,利用CDPOP软件模拟道路对川金丝猴遗传多样性的影响。结果表明:(1)神农架川金丝猴适宜生境分布较集中,生境斑块间存在多个潜在扩散区域;(2)道路改变了川金丝猴往来于南北生境间的最优路径,旅游干扰对川金丝猴移动路径无明显影响,其干扰主要在于川金丝猴对其具有回避性,回避距离为100 m;(3)道路显著降低金猴岭亚群内的连通性,并显著增加了所有亚群间的移动阻力,旅游活动对亚群内和亚群间的连通性无显著影响;(4)川金丝猴种群在150年内的遗传多样性呈下降趋势,道路的影响将加剧遗传多样性下降的程度。基于以上结果本文提出了针对性的保护建议,对于该物种的保护和其他濒危物种的类似研究具有较强的参考价值和借鉴意义。