Ultrastructure of the chronically vagotomised atrial myocardium in the monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

The ultrastructure of the atrial myocardium in the monkey (Macaca fascicularis) was studied after bilateral cervical vagotomy and survival times of 100, 175 and 367 days. Changes were observed in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the myocyte. Sequestered within the nuclei of the affected myocytes were cytoplasmic organelles and inclusions. In the late stages, there was a tendency towards condensation and margination of the heterochromatin. Changes in the cytoplasm included increased glycogen, mitochondrial degeneration and myofibrillar disorganisation and degeneration. There was increased collagen and mononuclear cell infiltration in the extracellular space in the later stages. This study has shown that the long term structural integrity of the atrial myocyte depends on an intact vagal innervation. The survival of the monkey after chronic bilateral vagotomy suggests that this nonhuman primate is a suitable model for functional studies of the parasympathetically denervated heart.     

Ultrastructure of the area postrema of the monkey, Macaca fascicularis

The area postrema of the monkey, Macaca fascicularis, were a pair of oval organs at the caudal end of the floor of fourth ventricle. Their ependymal lining was covered by well-developed microvilli with occasional overlying supraependymal cells. Two types of lining cells were present: pyramidad- and flattened cells. The pyramidal cell showed a long extending basal process resting on the underlying blood vessels. In transmission electron microscopy, the organ showed numerous fenestrated sinusoids characterized by a distinct perivascular space containing mast cells, macrophages and collagen fibrils. The parenchyma of the organ was composed of neurons and glial elements. Only one type of neuron ranging from 9.5 to 15 microns could be distinguished. The neurons contained an indented nucleus surrounded by organelle rich cytoplasm. The soma of the neuron was enclosed by glial element resembling astrocyte. The glial processes terminated on the blood vessel where they were "tunnelled" by a variable number of nerve fibres some of which gained a direct access to the external basal lamina of the perivascular space. Synapses in the neuropil predominantly of the axodendritic variety were observed. Axon terminals containing round agranular vesicles were seen to make synaptic contacts with the neuronal soma. No structural changes were observed in the area postrema following bilateral cervical vagotomy. However, degenerating axon terminals were observed in the subpostremal zone 7, 14 and 21 days after vagotomy suggesting a direct afferent projection into this region.     

Renewal of spermatogonia in the monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Populations of different types of spermatogonia and their mitotic activity were analyzed in the monkey Macaca fascicularis: 3 adults aged 5-6 yr and 3 young aged 2-3 mo. Two young and two adult monkeys received injections of 3H-thymidine for radioautographic study of the relationships between Type A spermatogonia: dark Type A (Ad), pale Type A (Ap) and transition Type A (At). In the adult the number of Ad and At spermatogonia did not change significantly throughout the seminiferous epithelium cycle. The number of Ap spermatogonia doubled at Stage VII, and half divided at Stage IX to give rise to B1 spermatogonia. The durations of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and spermatogenesis were estimated as 10.5 days and 42 days respectively. In the young and adult monkeys, some Ap spermatogonia and a lesser number of At spermatogonia were labeled one h after injection of precursor. At longer intervals after injection, the number of labeled At spermatogonia increased significantly, and some Ad as well as Ap spermatogonia were also labeled. These results indicate that Ap spermatogonia are renewal stem cells, and Ad spermatogonia are reserve stem cells. The differences in labeling after isotope exposure suggest that Ap cells may give rise successively to At and Ad cells.     

Alkaptonuria in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

An eight year old wild caught Cynomolgus monkey was diagnosed as having alkaptonuria, a condition characterized by the passage of a normal-colored urine which darkens upon standing. The underlying cause is the congenital lack of homogentisic acid oxidase with subsequent passage of homogentisic acid in the urine. No other clinical manifestations, such as deposition of pigment in the skin or mucous membranes or development of an ochronitic arthritis, were observed in this animal.     

Population status of the Simeulue monkey (Macaca fascicularis fusca)

The oceanic island of Simeulue, west of Sumatra, is inhabited by a distinct subspecies of the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis fusca) [Miller, 1903]. In January 1982 and March 1984, a survey was conducted to establish its population status. The monkey is morphologically different from other Sunda shelf M. fascicularis populations. In productive habitats, it lives in small groups (10–15 individuals) and reaches a density of more than one monkey/hectare (ha). The island's total population is estimated to be at least 50,000. The authors suggest that the location of a proposed reserve be shifted to include more of the most favorable habitat, i.e., alluvial forest.     

Early embryonal culture of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Ovaries of ten female cynologus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were superstimulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). During this treatment, follicular development was monitored by ultrasonography. After three to four injections of PMSG, ovaries began to show an increase in their size. After seven to ten injections of PMSG and a hCG injection, a total of 183 oocytes (18.3±14.1/ animal, mean±SD) were recovered from these females by laparotomy. Five nulliparous females produced 24.2±18.2 oocytes per animal, and the remaining five parous females produced 12.5±5.46 oocytes per animal. In total, 133 (72.6%) of the 183 oocytes were classified morphologically as matured, and 130 of them were inseminated with cynomolgus monkey sperm for 18 hours in vitro. The second polar body was observed in 92 (71%) of the inseminated oocytes, and 54 (59%) of the 92 oocytes showed cleavage division at least once. When these oocytes were fertilized and cultured in serum-free media, they stopped their development at 4-cell stage. In contrast to this condition, about a half of fertilized oocytes in serum-free media were able to develop to morula stage 4 days after insemination by transferring them into serum-containing media after 2-cell stage.     

Morphology of diaphragm in the crab-eating monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

The diaphragm was studied in 30 adult crab-eating monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The muscular bundle of the lumber part was derived from the tendinous origin, which attached to the anterior surface of the lumbar vertebra and intervertebral disc. The upper margin of the origin was at the one third of the second lumbar vertebra in both sides. The lower margin of the right and left tendons extend to lower one third and upper one third of the third lumbar vertebra, respectively. In 22 cases (73.3%) out of 30 specimens, some muscular bundles arose from the right crus with the collagenous sheath. They ran across the ventral aspect of the aortic hiatus and bounded the esophageal hiatus at the left side. The muscular fibers, which bound the esophageal hiatus at the right and left, are innervated by ipsilateral phrenic nerve. In four cases, the “Hilfsmuskel” after Treitz was observed. It arose from the connective tissue around the coeliac artery.     

Ameloblastic odontoma in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

An ameloblastic odontoma occurred in an adult cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). The neoplasm involved the upper left maxilla as a disfiguring, fleshy growth. The tissue and cellular changes were consistent with an ameloblastic odontoma which is rare in man, nonhuman primates (NHP), and other vertebrate animals. The monkey was one of 50 adult, single-caged housed cynomolgus monkeys. No additional clinical signs of disease were present. Hematology and serum chemistries were within normal limits. There have been three reports in the literature of ameloblastic odontomas in NHP; however, this is the first reported case of an ameloblastic odontoma in a cynomolgus monkey.     

Spontaneous endometriosis in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

An adult female Macaca fascicularis developed anorexia and minimal fecal production. Abdominal palpation was unrewarding. Rectal palpation revealed a rectal stricture and a large soft tissue mass in the area of the uterus. Clinical pathology tests were within normal limits. Exploratory surgery and histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of endometriosis.     

Morphological characterization of ejaculated cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) sperm

The aim of this study was to give reference values for the frequency of morphological sperm abnormalities present in the semen from nonexperimental cynomolgus monkeys as well as for the dimensions of sperm heads. Spermatozoa from the liquid portion of electroejaculates from 14 cynomolgus monkeys were air‐dried as smears, fixed, and stained with Harris's Haematoxylin and subjected to visual analysis of morphology and computer‐aided analysis of ten morphometric variables. The majority (83%) of sperm were morphologically normal. Tail defects were the most common (11%), and showed the highest variation between individuals, the values ranging between 4 and 23%. Head abnormalities consisted of large, tapering, and amorphous forms but were not frequent (0.4%), the values ranging between 0 and 1.3%. Midpiece imperfections were found in all the individuals; the mean percentage was 5%, and the range varied between 3 and 9%. Tail plus midpiece was the only multiple abnormality observed, with a mean value of 1.5% and a range between 0 and 8%. The majority of these double defects consisted of a coiled tail together with a coiled midpiece. Mean values for the morphometric parameters characterizing sperm heads were as follows: area 17.2 μm², perimeter 15.2 μm, length 5.8 μm, width 4.0 μm, L/W ratio 1.5, gray‐level 98, ellipticity 0.2, first shape factor 0.9, second shape factor 1.4, and third shape factor 1.1. Overall coefficients of variation for the majority of parameters were below 7%, showing the great homogeneity in the dimensions of cynomolgus sperm heads. Most useful parameters for sperm characterization, according to their low variability, were perimeter, length, width, L/W ratio, and shape factors. Differences in these parameters were, however, observed between monkeys. Am. J. Primatol. 47:105–115, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The innervation of the myometrium of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Summary The autonomic innervation of the myometrium of Macaca fascicularis consists of bundles of unmyelinated nerve fibres running between the smooth muscle cells, and is therefore considered to be of the fascicular (= unitary) type. Close contacts between nerve fibres and smooth muscle fibres were not found. Modification of the chromaffin method according to Tranzer and Richards made it possible to visualize the heterogeneity of the nerve fibres in a single bundle. The following fibre types were found to coexist: (1) noradrenergic fibres containing synaptic vesicles with a dense granule, (2) cholinergic fibres containing empty synaptic vesicles, and (3) non-adrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) fibres containing only or predominantly large dense-cored vesicles, which do not react with this method. Noradrenergic fibres are the most numerous (around 60%), followed by NANC fibres (30%) and cholinergic elements (around 10%). The distribution of these three types is similar in the cervix, the isthmus and the body of the uterus in pregnant and non-pregnant females.     

Successful artificial insemination for indoor breeding in the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) and the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Methods of artificial insemination (AI) for indoor breeding in the Japanese monkey and the Cynomolgus monkey were investigated. For the Japanese monkey AI was carried out in six females during the winter mating season and in six females during the summer non-mating season. During the mating season, semen was inseminated near ovulation time in natural menstrual cycles. In the mating season study, three females inseminated at the uterine cavity became pregnant. Three inseminated at the cervical canal failed to become pregnant. For the non-mating season study, ovulation was induced artificially by PMSG and hCG and AI was carried out near the induced ovulation time. In the non-mating season, no animals became pregnant. Of four Cynomolgus monkeys used, pregnancy occurred in two animals inseminated near ovulation time in natural menstrual cycles. AI occurred at the uterine cavity in one and cervical canal in the other. In both species ovulation was verified by laparoscopy. Semen was collected by penile electro-stimulation then diluted to 2.5 to 5.0×10⁷/ml with Whitten's medium. Diluted semen of 0.2l was inseminated at the uterine cavity or cervical canal. Our results indicate the usefulness of vaginal AI as a method of artificial indoor breeding.     

Fatal pneumococcal meningitis in a colony-born monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

This report describes the clinical course and pathological findings in a four-year-old male cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) which succumbed to fulminant pneumococcal meningitis. The extremely rapid course of this infection emphasizes the importance of early recognition of the clinical manifestations of meningitis in the correct diagnosis and rapid treatment of the condition.     

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscin storage in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

The light and electron microscopical characteristics of non-age-related neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a young cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) are described. The pigment in the neuronal cytoplasm was PAS-positive, sudanophilic, weakly acid-fast, and positive with Schmorl's and aldehydefuchsin stains for lipofuscin. Ultra-structurally, it appeared as membrane-bound, electron-dense aggregates within the cytoplasm of neurones of both brain and spinal cord.     

Development of the definitive kidney in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract: Formation of the definitive kidney in Macaca fascicularis embryos was investigated using light and electron microscopy. Appearance of the definitive kidney at stage 14 was indicated by the ureteric bud invading the metanephrogenic blastema. Glomerular capillaries originate from the connective tissue that surrounds the developing renal vesicle. At 46–100 days gestational age the more developed glomeruli show thinning of the capillary endothelium, thickening of the basal membrane, and presence of pedicels, suggesting a capability of renal function.     

Arterial vascularization of the gastrointestinal tract in Macaca fascicularis (cynomologus monkey)

Abstract: We describe the origin, course, and distribution of the arteries responsible for vascularization of the subdiaphragmatic gastrointestinal tract of Macaca fascicularis as well as the characteristics of the celiac trunk and the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, studied in a series of 50 animals. Detailed knowledge of these systems is an essential requirement if experimental surgery is to be successfully performed in these laboratory animals.     

Isolation and culture of hepatocytes from the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Summary Isolation and culture techniques for hepatocytes from whole livers of the cynomolgus monkey,Macaca fascicularis, are described. Hepatocytes were isolated by two-step perfusion of livers, using collagenase with hyaluronidase; fructose and trypsin inhibitor were included to reduce cell loss. Yields from a single liver average 4×10⁹ cells with viabilities of 90.8±5.7%. Cells, plated on collagen substrates, were assessed for changes in morphology and various marker enzyme activities over a period of 7 d in culture. Cells exhibited a morphology similar to that observed for this species in vivo; little change in attached and spread cells was observed over the length of time monitored. Enzyme activities for catalase, succinate dehydrogenase, and tyrosine aminotransferase were observed to decrease significantly (though considerable activity remained), whereas acid phosphatase and 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase remained unchange. Activity of cytochrome P-450 reductase was observed to increase slightly for the first 2 d, then decrease to about 60% of initial levels. Activity of α-mannosidase was stable for 4 d but was observed to be increased at Day 7. Cells were observed to retain metabolic responsiveness demonstrated by glucose production by both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in response to glucagon stimulation. The monkey hepatocytes obtained by methods described here thus retain hepatocellular morphology and activity through at least 1 wk in culture without medium or culture modification.     

Isolation and identification of spirorenone metabolites from the monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

The plasma level of spirorenone was determined 3 h after 1, 8, 22 and 46 daily oral administrations of 20 mg/kg to two female and two male monkeys ($\text{Macaca fascicularis}$). A fifth animal, female, was treated with eight daily doses of tritium-labelled drug and was completely bled from the carotid vein 4 h after the last administration in order to isolate and identify plasma metabolites.After repeated daily doses of spirorenone the mean plasma level of unchanged drug was 711 ± 213 ng/ml. In the plasma of the fifth animal four radioactively labelled compounds could be detected after extraction and subsequent HPLC separation. Mass spectrometric identification of three of the substances indicated 1,2-dihydrospirorenone, hydroxy-1,2-dihydrospirorenone and the unchanged drug itself.