Endocrine aspects of social instability in the olive baboon (Papio anubis)

The relationships among social status and the cortisol and testosterone stress-response were studied in the non-natal male members of a troop of olive baboons (Papio anubis) before and during a period of social instability. The unstable period was characterized by dominance interactions that were more frequent, more inconsistent, and produced less linear hierarchies than during the stable period. These changes occurred predominantly among the high-ranking males. Such males engaged in coalitions and consortship harassments at a higher rate during the unstable period than during the stable period. Finally, high-ranking males had the highest rates of involvement in and initiation of escalated fighting during the unstable period, in contrast with the stable period. A number of endocrine correlates of instability emerged. During the stable period, high-ranking males (by reproductive criteria) showed an endocrine profile different from that of subordinates. They had the lowest basal cortisol titers, the largest and fastest increases in cortisol titer during stress, and had elevated testosterone titers during stress. None of these attributes was found in high-ranking males during the unstable period. Males during the unstable period had elevated basal cortisol titers, suppressed cortisol responsiveness to stress, and no longer showed elevated testosterone titers during stress. When psychological advantages associated with social status in a stable social environment were lost, endocrine efficiency previously associated with social status was apparently also lost. Further, high-ranking males, who were most aggressive exclusively during the unstable period, had the highest absolute titers of testosterone exclusively during the unstable period. Thus, elevated testosterone and high levels of aggression were unrelated to social status during the period of social stability, but were traits associated with dominant individuals during the unstable period.     

Female weight and reproductive condition in a population of olive baboons (Papio anubis)

The study reported here tested Altmann's prediction [Baboon Mothers and Infants. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1980] that lactating female baboons endure a weight loss. Data from 64 adult female olive baboons (Papio anubis) residing in six troops in Kenya revealed that reproductive condition was related to weight. Lactating females weighed less and pregnant females weighed more than cycling females. There was a negative correlation between the weight of cycling females and the number of months postweighing to their next conception. These results indicate that lactation in wild baboons imposes energy costs that result in lost weight. It is suggested that female baboons may have to surpass a minimum weight threshold prior to resumption of postlactational cycling and that nutritional status is more influential than rank in affecting female reproductive success.     

Complete rectal prolapse in wild anubis baboons (Papio anubis)

This report describes two cases of rectal prolapse in wild anubis baboons (Papio anubis), with one spontaneous resolution. Both occurred after individuals consumed low‐water, high‐fibre dried maize during provisioning prior to capture, while one also experienced distress during capture.     

Dominance and reproductive rates in captive female olive baboons, Papio anubis

The reproductive cycles of 23 captive olive baboons were studied over two successive parturitions. Interbirth intervals of 450 days were reduced by 60% in comparison to wild baboons, and consisted of 145 days of postpartum amenorrhea, 3.5 cycles, and a gestation of 185 days. Dominance rank was found to be one significant factor affecting female fertility. Low-ranking females had longer total intervals between successive births and, in particular, they experienced a longer delay to conception once they had resumed sexual cycles. Mothers of infants who were heavy for age resumed cycling more quickly and had fewer cycles before a subsequent conception. Mothers best able to sustain rapid early infant growth were those of high dominance rank and of high body mass; these females had more rapid reproductive rates. As female energy intake was unrelated to dominance, we suggest that social stresses are important suppressors of the hormonal and lactational competence of subordinate females.     

A-B-O blood groups in Kenya olive baboons (Papio anubis)

A feral population of 183 Kenyan olive baboons representing 5 troops was surveyed for salivary ABO-like antigens. Unlike previously reported populations, a high frequency of the O allele and low frequency of the B allele were detected. This observation may be the result of founder effect and/or genetic drift.     

Predation by a troop of olive baboons (Papio anubis)

During 1970–1971, a troop of 49 olive baboons was observed in a partially protected area in Kenya, not far from the village of Gilgil. The baboons were seen to catch and eat 47 small animals, a rate of predation far higher than has been reported for any other nonhuman primate. Prey animals included hares, small antelope and the neonatal young of larger antelope. Adult male baboons caught and ate all but three of the prey animals. Adult females caught hares three times, but only once was a female able to keep and eat most of the animal she had caught. There was no significant seasonal variation in the occurrence of this behavior. The baboons appeared to search out prey deliberately and to come upon it by accident. No instances of cooperative hunting or voluntary sharing were seen. Both incidence and form of this predatory behavior may be influenced by learned, local tradition.     

Tuberculosis in wild olive baboons, Papio cynocephalus anubis (Lesson), in Kenya

Several wild olive baboons from a single troop in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya were observed to be lethargic and emaciated. Five were trapped and tuberculin tested by intradermal inoculation of 0.1 cc (100 IU) mammalian old tuberculin in the upper eyelid. Two of the five showed positive reaction at 72 hr and were examined at necropsy. Gross lesions in both animals consisted of multiple nodules with caseation in the lung, spleen and tracheobronchial lymph nodes. There were multiple granulomas throughout the lung, spleen and the lymph nodes. Tissues were cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen media with and without pyruvic acid. Isolates were typed as Mycobacterium bovis.     

Use of females by male olive baboons (Papio anubis)

Wild male olive baboons (Papio anubis) used females and infants as agonistic buffers. Male residency status determined whether a male used females or whether they were used against him. The success of the strategy depended on the cooperation of the female and the context of the interaction. Female cooperation correlated with preexisting social affiliation with the male user. Male choice of female or infant buffers represented a compromise between the potential effectiveness of each in different situations and the social and spatial availability of females and infants. Nonreproductive social relationships may provide long-term strategic benefits to the individuals who invest in them.     

A case of tool use in captive olive baboons (Papio anubis)

Some captive olive baboons can use their tails for picking up objects from the floor. When provided with a short handle and crosspiece, these animals learn to manipulate this tool with their hands, and one of them became proficient in inserting the crosspiece into a small wire loop, attached to a piece of bread and in lifting it up to his cage. Another baboon in the same colony who never used his tail to retrieve objects, did not attempt to use this tool. The psychological aspects of tail-use and tool-use are discussed.     

Rank and reproduction in cooperatively breeding African wild dogs: behavioral and endocrine correlates

African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) live in cooperative packswith a clear-cut dominance hierarchy in each sex. Reproductionis largely monopolized by the dominant male and female. Alphafemales produced 76% of all litters in the Selous Game Reserveand 81% in Kruger National Park. Only 6-17% of subordinate femalesgave birth each year, compared to 82% of dominant females. Innonmating periods, subordinate females had higher estrogen levelsand higher estrogen/progestin ratios than alpha females, apparentlypreventing ovulation. During mating periods, subordinate femaleshad lower estrogen levels than dominants, mated less often,and were less aggressive. Subordinate males mated at low rates,wore less aggressive than dominants, and had lower testosteronelevels. Beta males were similar to alpha males behavioraDy andhormonaUy, suggesting that alpha males may share paternity withbeta males. If paternity is more evenly shared than maternity,then subordinate males have a larger incentive than subordinatefemales to remain in the pack. Following this expectation, dispersalin Selous was female biased (49% versus 24% dispersing annually).Perhaps as a result of mortality associated with dispersal,the adult sex ratio was male biased, although the pup sex ratiowas unbiased. In Kruger, neither dispersal nor the adult sex-ratiowas biased. Reproductive suppression is widely thought to becaused by social stress in subordinates, but basal cortkosteronelevels were higher in dominants than in subordinates     

Sparganosis in wild-caught baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis)

BACKGROUND: Sparganosis is the infection of a paratenic host with the plerocercoid metacestode of Spirometra spp. A 12-year-old captive, pregnant, wild-caught baboon from Tanzania had multiple subcutaneous nodules. METHODS: Examination of the biopsied nodules revealed the presence of viable metacestodes. The histological morphology of the metacestodes was consistent with the genus Spirometra and other pseudophyllidean cestodes. Since species of Spirometra produce growth hormones that are active in mammals, we measured fetal and placental growth and hormone levels. Blood samples were taken from the mother and the cesarean-derived fetus for hematological, biochemical, and hormonal analyses and to test for the presence of antispargana antibodies. RESULTS: Baboon placental weight and fetal hematological, biochemical, and morphometric parameters were within normal ranges. Antibody titers to spargana did not differ significantly between mother (1.08 OD(405)) and fetus (0.91 OD(405)). Baboon maternal insulin-like growth factor and growth hormone values were also within the normal range. Estradiol and progesterone analysis in four of these animals (antibody titers ranged from 0.71 to 1.7 OD(405)) showed no statistically significant difference with age- or phase-matched cycle parameters compared with antibody-negative females. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results that have been obtained, sparganosis did not appear to affect the endocrinological profile of pregnant and cycling female baboons.     

Palatal growth in baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis)

In this study the structure and development of the palate as observed in a cross-sectional collection of olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) skulls are described and analyzed using craniometric techniques. Considered are structural functional relationships among different parts of the palate, and between the palate and other parts of the craniofacial skeleton. Several inferences are drawn and speculated upon. These inferences are as follows: odontogenesis affects premaxillary growth the most during late fetal and early postnatal development; maxillary length is significantly affected by development and eruption of the maxillary dentition, whereas maxillary breadth is less affected by dental development. Growth of the palatine bones and nasopharyngeal airway is correlated with dentomasticatory changes; the developmental and functional significance of these correlations is unclear. Further inferences are that growth rates for each palatal component differ for each sex even though lengths of the components relative to total palatal dimensions show no sexual dimorphism. Also, it is determined that maxillary length remains constant, premaxillary length reduces and palatine length increases relative to total palatal length with growth.     

Hormonal correlates of ontogeny in baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) and mangabeys (Cercocebus atys)

This study investigates the relationship between serum hormone levels and morphometrics during ontogeny in olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) and sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys), to test hypotheses about the endocrine regulation of species size differences. First, we expect that levels of hormones and binding proteins predict size change during ontogeny in both species. Second, a high level of integration among the hormones and binding proteins analyzed is expected, with the implication that they act in combination to influence the development of body size and shape. Utilizing a mixed longitudinal sample, we compare change in 18 different measurements, which reflect overall size growth as well as growth in length and circumference, with levels of six growth-related hormones and binding proteins. We examine the relationship between hormone and binding protein levels and morphometrics, using multivariate analyses and "arithmetically-estimated" velocity curves of hormones, binding proteins, to characterize how the endocrine factors analyzed relate to growth. Results suggest that levels of these endocrine factors can be used to predict local and overall growth during ontogeny and that integration between multiple hormone axes is indicated. While important for growth in both species, ontogenetic changes in hormone and binding protein levels are more tightly correlated with changes in morphometric measurements in baboons than mangabeys. These results have important implications for understanding why some smaller-bodied species have higher absolute growth-related hormone levels than larger-bodied species.     

Reversal of Ketamine/Xylazine combination anesthesia by Atipamezole in olive baboons (Papio anubis)

Background  The potential of Atipamezole (ATI) to reverse Ketamine/Xylazine (KET/XYL) anesthesia in the Olive baboon ( Papio anubis ) was studied.
Methods  Anesthesia was induced with 10 mg/kg KET and 0.5 mg/kg XYL intramuscularly. Mean arousal time (MAT), heart rate (HR), systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), rectal temperature, respiratory rate (RR), and hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were monitored. Baboons were treated with: KET/XYL only, KET/XYL followed by 100 μg/kg ATI or by 200 μg/kg ATI administered 25 minutes after KET/XYL.
Results  Atipamezole rapidly reversed depressed HR and SAP (10 ± 5.2 minutes), RR (5 ± 2 minutes) and SpO₂ (3 ± 6 minutes) and significantly decreased MAT (13 ± 2.2 minutes) vs. KET/XYL alone (35 ± 5 minutes). Emesis was absent and salivation was observed after administration of 200 μg/kg ATI only.
Conclusions  Atipamezole at 100 μg/kg is sufficient for rapid and smooth reversal of KET/XYL anesthesia in the Olive baboon with minimal side effects.     

Endocrine correlates of rank,reproduction, and female-directed aggression in male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Fecal testosterone and cortisol levels in six wild male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), three of high rank and three of low, were analyzed to investigate the hormonal correlates of rank, reproduction, and female-directed aggression. The study encompassed the 6-month mating season, from October 1999 to March 2000, during which time 251 fecal samples and approximately 550 h of behavioral data were collected. Dominant males were not found to differ from subordinate males in overall rates of aggressive or copulatory behavior. Likewise, testosterone excretion, which peaked in the early part of the mating season and declined gradually thereafter, did not differ significantly by rank. High-ranking males, however, were observed to excrete significantly higher levels of cortisol than low-ranking males, suggesting that dominance may carry costs. The two hormones were found to be inversely correlated in the two most dominant males, but independent in all others. Rate of noncontact aggression was significantly correlated with testosterone, while no significant relationships were observed between testosterone and contact aggression nor any aspect of copulatory behavior. These data further support the contention that social subordinance and stress are not inexorably linked, as well as suggest that elevated glucocorticoid concentrations in high-ranking males may reflect increased metabolic costs associated with dominant male reproductive strategy.     

Positional behaviour of olive baboons (Papio anubis) and its relationship to maintenance and social activities

A troop of olive baboons (Papio anubis) was studied over a four week period. Total observation time was 140 hours, 118 hours of which were spent gathering quantitative data on positional behaviour and the maintenance and social behaviour with which it is associated. The contribution of each activity on a time basis to the positional repertoire is described and some data is presented on the development of positional activities in infants. The contribution of positional activities to various maintenance and social activities is also described quantitatively. The complex of positional, maintenance, social and environmental factors involved especially in feeding, foraging, play, and grooming are described and discussed. The similarities between the adaptive response shown during the study period and that of other ground living cercopithecines is also discussed.     

Ultrasonic determination of fetal parameters in baboons (Papio anubis)

The use of nonhuman primates to study reproductive physiology, fetal development, and neonatal management often depends on the availability of pregnant and fetal animals of known gestational history. The purpose of this study was to establish and correlate normal fetal growth parameters with gestational age in olive baboons (Papio anubis). Normal cycling females were bred to proven males by using the degree of perineal swelling and vaginal cytology to determine onset of ovulation. The subjects were evaluated to determine pregnancy beginning 18 days postmating, using an Aloka-650 diagnostic ultrasound unit, equipped with a 7.5 mHz prostate probe and a 5 mHz transabdominal probe. Ten pregnant animals were then evaluated sonographically every 3 days through day 30 and weekly through day 135 (average gestation 184 days). Measurements included gestational sac, greatest-length, biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference. Using the means and standard deviations, growth curves were constructed, and the data used to develop predicted value charts for gestational age estimation. Using the predicted value charts established in our study, subsequent evaluation of pregnant baboons in our colony disclosed concordance with actual gestational age.