Pott's Paraplegia in a Tuberculous Rhesus Monkey,Macaca mulatta

Thirty-eight young adult Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) gave negative reactions to four consecutive intrapalpebral tuberculin testings at 2-week intervals. Shortly afterwards, one of six subsequently found to have tuberculosis caused by Myobacterium tuberculosis hominis, suddenly developed dyspnea and paraplegia. Gross and histopathologic examination revealed epidural compression of the spinal cord by excessive granulation tissue originating in the 2nd and 3rd thoracic vertebrae. Neither vertebra exhibited gross structural collapse. One monkey had early generalized tuberculosis and four had pulmonary tuberculosis only. The need for unrelenting vigilance and strict control policies in primate colonies is emphasized.     

Cloning and Comparison of Factor X from Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The reliability of the rhesus monkey as an important experimental animal depends on its genetic concordance with human. During our assessment of the rhesus monkey as a preclinical model for coagulation-related research, we cloned the full-length cDNA of rhesus monkey factor X (FX) and compared its genetic characteristics and coagulation activity with those of human FX. The full-length cDNA of rhesus monkey FX was 1683 bp in length, corresponding to 487 coding amino acids and sharing 94.71% nucleotide identity and 93.65% amino acid identity with human FX. When FX sequences from different animals were compared with that of human FX, rhesus monkey and baboon FX showed similar degrees of homology to human FX, which were less than that between human and chimpanzee FX sequences but remarkably higher than those of another 2 monkey species, bovine, pig, and rodents. Comparison of functional sites between human and rhesus monkey FX revealed high similarities between their amino acids sequences and 3-dimensional structures. The average coagulation activity of FX from 24 rhesus monkeys was in the normal range of that of healthy humans. The rhesus monkey therefore may be a suitable animal model for research addressing coagulation factor X.Abbreviations: 3D, 3-dimensional; FX, factor X; SMART, simple modular architecture research tool; TFPI, tissue factor pathway inhibitorRhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) continue to be widely used research animals in many biologic fields.¹⁵ Because of their close genetic relationship to humans, there is increasing interest in the use of rhesus monkeys for gene therapy, stem cell, infectious disease researches, and reproductive biology.¹² The effective application of rhesus monkey as an important experimental animal is dependent on the genomic and proteomic concordance between rhesus and human.¹⁷ The coagulation system plays an essential role in many physiologic and pathologic processes, including hematologic, cardiovascular, and liver diseases and transplantation. Clearly, the establishment of genetic information and reference activity values of rhesus monkey coagulation factors is requisite to interpretation of the data from preclinical coagulation-related research using rhesus monkeys. Factor X (FX) is a vitamin-K–dependent protein that is 1 of the most critical factors in the coagulation scheme; its activation is the convergence of the extrinsic and intrinsic activation pathways and leads to the final stages of hemostasis.⁶ Human FX has been investigated extensively during the past century, but there have been few reports regarding the characterization of monkey FX.¹⁴The ineffective binding of porcine tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) to human FX was proposed to be an important contributor to coagulopathy in pig-to-human xenotransplantation.¹¹ Many in vitro studies¹¹ have investigated the interaction between porcine endothelial cells and human coagulation factors, whereas in vivo studies⁸ have addressed the interaction between porcine endothelial cells and monkey coagulation factors. The concordance of the results from these in vitro and in vivo studies therefore reflects high homology, if not identity, between human FX and monkey FX. During our assessment of whether rhesus monkey is a reliable model for studying coagulation disorders in xenotransplantation, we cloned the full-length cDNA of rhesus monkey FX and compared its nucleotide and amino-acid sequences and coagulation activities with those of human FX.     

Adult Polycystic Kidney Disease in a Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Adult polycystic kidney disease was diagnosed at necropsy in a 16-year-old rhesus monkey dead from renal failure. Both kidneys were enlarged and contained multiple cysts ranging from 0.1 to 4.0 cm in diameter. The age of onset of the clinical signs, terminal uremia, and the gross and histologic findings in this macaque were consistent with adult (type III) polycystic kidney disease of man.     

不同渗透压的稀释液对猕猴精子低温冷冻保存的影响

以稀释液TTE(382mOsm/kg)为对照,研究了5种渗透压(688、389、329、166、43mOsm/kg)的TEST稀释液(TEST、mTEST1、mTEST2、mTEST3、mTEST4)在冷冻过程中对猕猴精子功能的影响。精液一步稀释于含甘油的防冻液中,甘油的终浓度为5%(v/v)。在冷冻前后分别检测精子的运动度和质膜完整性,后者用Hoechst33342和碘化丙锭双色标记流式细胞术分析。结果表明:冷冻之前,与鲜精相比,用TEST和mTEST4稀释的精子运动度和质膜完整性显著降低(P<0·001),其余组中除mTEST2稀释的精子质膜完整性显著降低(P<0·05)外,精子运动度无差异;冷冻复苏后,TTE、mTEST3和mTEST1冻存精子的运动度和质膜完整性最高,其次是mTEST2,TEST和mTEST4冷冻效果最差(P<0·05)。提示等渗、适当高渗或低渗的稀释液适合猕猴精子的冷冻保存;对精子产生高渗毒害作用是导致猕猴精子用TEST冷冻存活率低的主要原因。     

四种渗透性防冻剂在猕猴精子低温冷冻保存中对精子功能状态的影响

以冷冻精子的复苏运动度、荧光染料Hoechst 3 3 2 5 8检测的细胞膜完整率、异硫氰酸荧光素标记的花生凝集素 (FITC PNA)检测的顶体完整率作为精子功能状态的指标 ,对甘油、二甲亚砜、乙二醇和丙二醇 4种常用渗透性防冻剂在猕猴精子冷冻保存过程中的作用进行了比较。结果表明 :冷冻保存精子的复苏运动度 ,甘油 ( 4 7 3± 5 7% )和乙二醇 ( 4 4 8± 6 7% ) >二甲亚砜 ( 2 2 9± 0 9% ) >丙二醇 ( 0± 0 % ) ;细胞膜完整率 ,甘油 ( 5 4 8± 3 2 % )和乙二醇 ( 5 4 0± 6 7% ) >二甲亚砜 ( 3 7 5± 7 0 % ) >丙二醇 ( 2 8 3± 6 5 % ) ;顶体完整率 ,甘油 ( 82 2± 2 4 % )和乙二醇 ( 82 4± 2 4 % ) >二甲亚砜 ( 6 8 7± 5 7% )和丙二醇 ( 72 3±3 5 % ) (P <0 0 5 )。结果提示 :二甲亚砜和丙二醇 ,尤其是丙二醇并不适合猕猴精子的冷冻保存 ;而乙二醇具有和甘油相似的保护作用 ,是一种极具潜力的猕猴精子冷冻保存的渗透性防冻剂。     

实验恒河猴超声心动图的初步研究

分别采用二维、脉冲多普勒及M型超声心动图Teichholtz公式对1 0只健康成年实验恒河猴(Macacamulatta)的心脏结构、心脏血流动力学及左室收缩功能进行测定,并比较不同性别间各参数的差异,以建立正常健康成年恒河猴超声心动图相关生理学参数的基础正常值。结果表明,健康成年实验恒河猴超声心动图各项生理指标类似于人类新生儿的指标,雌、雄组间比较除室间隔舒张末期厚度有统计学差异外(P <0 0 5 ) ,其余指标均无统计学差异(P >0 0 5 )。     

Osteochondromatosis in a Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

A 5-y-old, male, rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) presented with a prominent mass slightly anteriomedial to the right stifle. On exam, multiple radiopaque masses were identified protruding from the mid- and distal femur. Lateral and anteroposterior radiographs of the right stifle region revealed multiple exophytic masses arising from the femur, with mild bony reaction of the proximal tibia. Histologic examination of biopsy tissue revealed woven and lamellar bone with granulation tissue and skeletal muscle. Because the macaque was exhibiting no lameness or signs of pain, we decided to monitor the progression of the masses. Minimal change was noted during the time prior to study termination at 6.5 y of age. Necropsy revealed that the bony masses were cartilage-capped lesions arising near the growth plate of the distal femur and midshaft of the femur and tibia. Histologic examination revealed chondro-osseous exophytic growths that blended imperceptibly with the cortex and spongiosa of the femur, consistent with a final diagnosis of multiple osteochondromas.     

The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) Sperm Proteome

Mass spectrometry based proteomics has facilitated sperm composition studies in several mammalian species but no studies have been undertaken in non-human primate species. Here we report the analysis of the 1247 proteins that comprise the Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) sperm proteome (termed the MacSP). Comparative analysis with previously characterized mouse and human sperm proteomes reveals substantial levels of orthology (47% and 40% respectively) and widespread overlap of functional categories based on Gene Ontology analyses. Approximately 10% of macaque sperm genes (113/1247) are significantly under-expressed in the testis as compared with other tissues, which may reflect proteins specifically acquired during epididymal maturation. Phylogenetic and genomic analyses of three MacSP ADAMs (A-Disintegrin and Metalloprotease proteins), ADAM18-, 20- and 21-like, provides empirical support for sperm genes functioning in non-human primate taxa which have been subsequently lost in the lineages leading to humans. The MacSP contains proteasome proteins of the 20S core subunit, the 19S proteasome activator complex and an alternate proteasome activator PA200, raising the possibility that proteasome activity is present in mature sperm. Robust empirical characterization of the Rhesus sperm proteome should greatly expand the possibility for targeted molecular studies of spermatogenesis and fertilization in a commonly used model species for human infertility.The application of mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics, coupled with whole genome annotation of an increasing number of species, has greatly extended our knowledge of sperm composition. Traditional methods used to assess sperm composition, including the use of sperm-specific antibodies and 2D gel electrophoresis, have identified a limited number of sperm proteins. These traditional studies have been augmented in recent years by the use of high throughput and highly sensitive MS (shotgun proteomics) that have substantially increased the accuracy of peptide identification, resulting in a significant increase in proteome coverage. Indeed, advances in MS instrumentation, data acquisition, and the availability of genome annotations have, for example, increased sperm proteome coverage in Drosophila from 381 (1) to 1108 proteins (2) over a five year period.Two main MS based methodologies have been applied to study sperm composition, including (i) 2D PAGE followed by spot excision and MS and (ii) digestion of proteins, followed by MS/MS analysis of the resulting peptides (3). Although each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, a far greater level of proteome coverage is obtained using MS/MS (4). A previous comparative study found that each method identified proteins not found in the other and vice versa, and therefore it has been suggested that these methods should be used to complement each other (5). Thus, although no single methodology yet exists capable of producing a complete whole cell proteome, MS/MS methods provide deeper and broader coverage and are therefore the current method of choice. Shotgun proteomics has characterized sperm proteomes in a variety of taxa including plants, invertebrates and mammals such as human, mouse, rat, and bull (3, 6–11). These studies achieve varying levels of proteome coverage as a result of several factors including the choice of MS equipment, sample acquisition, purification, solublization, and fractionation schemes. Although these different approaches make direct comparisons difficult they nevertheless have provided invaluable information regarding the composition of sperm and have helped to identify novel proteins that play important roles in sperm function and reproduction.In this study we use MS based proteomics to elucidate the sperm proteome of a species of old world monkey, the Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Due primarily to their genetic and physiological similarities to humans, Rhesus macaques are the most widely used nonhuman primate model system for basic and applied biomedical research (12). Rhesus macaques are also used extensively as a model of human reproduction where numerous similarities at the molecular level have been observed between gametes of the two species, and why Rhesus macaques have become a useful model system for fertility and assisted reproductive technology research (13). A more complete knowledge of the sperm proteome will facilitate reproductive studies using the Rhesus macaque as a model organism. However, despite its widespread use in reproductive biology, the macaque sperm proteome (MacSP)¹ has yet to be characterized.Although insight into the MacSP will facilitate reproductive studies using the Rhesus macaque as a model organism, this knowledge can also be used to better understand the composition of human sperm. Sperm mature and gain fertilization competency as they traverse the epididymis, a specialized duct that connects the testis to the vas deferens (14). During the maturation process, sperm lose or modify a number of their surface proteins and gain additional transient or permanent surface proteins in a well-organized manner, and it is only after emerging from the cauda epididymis that sperm are motile and considered fertilization competent (14, 15).Proteomic studies of human sperm have been undertaken (3, 6, 10), identifying between 98–1760 sperm proteins, however these studies used sperm from ejaculates which complicates sperm proteome analysis. A previous study identified 923 proteins present in human seminal plasma (16), which is likely to be only a fraction of the seminal plasma proteome. Human sperm proteome data sets derived from human ejaculates makes it difficult to differentiate which of the identified proteins are sperm or seminal plasma constituents. For example, a major seminal protein family, the semenogelins are not expressed in the testis but are found in sperm proteomes determined from ejaculates (6, 10). Such highly abundant seminal proteins may mask lower abundance integral sperm proteins and inhibit their identification by MS. In order to avoid these problems, we collected mature sperm directly from the cauda epididymis of the Rhesus macaque, thus avoiding contamination from seminal plasma proteins.In the present study, sperm proteins were separated using 1D SDS-PAGE, digested and the resulting peptides analyzed by LC MS/MS. Using high stringency parameters for peptide identification, we conservatively identified 1247 proteins from purified samples of Rhesus macaque sperm. Given their close evolutionary relationship, the Rhesus macaque and human share 93% nucleotide homology (12). Data from this study can be used to complement what is currently known about the composition of human sperm and provides a more useful proxy of human sperm proteome composition than the proteomes of other non-primate mammals for which data is available. Studies of sperm composition, especially those in human, can be applied to develop novel molecular based clinical diagnostic tests of sperm quality, which is currently limited to evaluating parameters such as sperm count, morphology and motility. In addition, knowledge of sperm components can lead to the discovery of novel contraceptives and infertility treatments.     

A Behavioral Taxonomy of Loneliness in Humans and Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Social relationships endow health and fitness benefits, but considerable variation exists in the extent to which individuals form and maintain salutary social relationships. The mental and physical health effects of social bonds are more strongly related to perceived isolation (loneliness) than to objective social network characteristics. We sought to develop an animal model to facilitate the experimental analysis of the development of, and the behavioral and biological consequences of, loneliness. In Study 1, using a population-based sample of older adults, we examined how loneliness was influenced both by social network size and by the extent to which individuals believed that their daily social interactions reflected their own choice. Results revealed three distinct clusters of individuals: (i) individuals with large networks who believed they had high choice were lowest in loneliness, (ii) individuals with small social networks who believed they had low choice were highest in loneliness, and (iii) the remaining two groups were intermediate and equivalent in loneliness. In Study 2, a similar three-group structure was identified in two separate samples of adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) living in large social groups: (i) those high in sociability who had complex social interaction with a broad range of social partners (putatively low in loneliness), (ii) those low in sociability who showed tentative interactions with certain classes of social partners (putatively high in loneliness), and (iii) those low in sociability who interacted overall at low levels with a broad range of social partners (putatively low or intermediate in loneliness). This taxonomy in monkeys was validated in subsequent experimental social probe studies. These results suggest that, in highly social nonhuman primate species, some animals may show a mismatch between social interest and social attainment that could serve as a useful animal model for experimental and mechanistic studies of loneliness.     

Mineralized Trichobezoars in a Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)

A five-year-old female rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) presented with a thin body condition and multiple palpable mid-abdominal masses. Mineralized cecal trichobezoars were removed surgically. Thirteen months later, similar masses recurred and were confirmed with radiographs. This is the first case report of a mineralized cecal trichobezoar in a rhesus macaque.     

Aggressive Play and Communication in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

One adaptive function that has been suggested for social playin higher primates is the learning, refining, or practicingof communicative skills. Despite the absence of experimentaldata, a comparison of the structure of aggressive play and communicationmay shed light on this hypothesis. The great majority of rhesusmonkey agonistic interactions are mediated by stereotyped signals.Deprivation experiments have shown that appropriate interpretationand use of such signals requires early social experience. Suchexperience seemingly must have the following characteristics:(i) The relevant agonistic signals must occur, (ii) These signalsmust regularly be paired with other stimuli for appropriateresponses to signals to be learned. Signals must produce regularresponses in other monkeys for appropriate use to be learned.Aggressive play seems to be an unpromising context in whichto learn, refine, or practice agonistic signals. These signalsare not observed in play, and the signals that do occur arerestricted to play and are not regularly paired with unconditionedstimuli.     

Sex Ratio, Conflict Dynamics, and Wounding in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Rhesus macaques, like many other primates, live in stable, multi-male multi-female groups in which adult females typically outnumber adult males. The number of males in multi-male/multi-female groups is most commonly discussed in terms of mate competition, where the sex ratio is a function of an adult male's ability to monopolize a group of females. However, the relationship between sex ratio and group stability is unclear because the presence of many males may either reduce stability by increasing mate competition or may improve stability if adult males are key conflict managers. We investigated the relationship between sex ratio, male intervention behavior, and trauma in seven groups of captive rhesus macaques. Our results show that high-ranking adult males intervene twice as frequently as adult females (P<0.0001) and are about twice as successful (P<0.0001). Furthermore, the type of adult males present in the group affects the relationship between intervention behavior and rate of traumas: males must be unrelated to the highest-ranking matrilines. Groups with a lower ratio of females per male unrelated to the alpha and beta matrilines had better intervention success (P<0.04) and fewer traumas requiring veterinary care (P=0.003). We conclude that conflict management behavior by adult males, particularly those unrelated to the highest-ranking matrilines, is the mechanism by which sex ratio influences the frequency of traumas, and thus group stability. We therefore suggest that monitoring and managing the sex ratio of captive primate groups is one of many measurements to predict group stability.     

Endometrial Decidualization and Deciduosis in Aged Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Superficial decidualization of the endometrial stroma is an essential feature of the implantation stage of pregnancy in rhesus macaques and other primates. Decidualization involves proliferation of the endometrial stromal cells, with differentiation into morphologically distinct decidual cells. Previous reports involving nonpregnant rhesus monkeys have described localized and widespread endometrial decidualization in response to administration of progesterone and synthetic progestogens. Ectopic decidua or ‘deciduosis’ describes the condition in which groups of decidual cells are located outside of the endometrium, most often in the ovaries, uterus and cervix but also in various other organs. In humans, most cases of deciduosis are associated with normal pregnancy, and ectopic decidua can be found in the ovary in nearly all term pregnancies. Here we describe pronounced endometrial decidualization in 2 rhesus macaques. Both macaques had been treated long-term with medroxyprogesterone acetate for presumed endometriosis, which was confirmed in one of the macaques at postmortem examination. In one animal, florid extrauterine and peritoneal serosal decidualization was admixed multifocally with carcinomatosis from a primary colonic adenocarcinoma. Cells constituting endometrial and serosal decidualization reactions were immunopositive for the stromal markers CD10, collagen IV, smooth muscle actin, and vimentin and immunonegative for cytokeratin. In contrast, carcinomatous foci were cytokeratin-positive. To our knowledge, this report describes the first cases of serosal peritoneal decidualization in rhesus macaques. The concurrent presentation of serosal peritoneal decidualization with carcinomatosis is unique.Abbreviations: GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; PAS, periodic acid–Schiff; SMA, smooth-muscle actinSuperficial decidualization of the endometrial stroma is an essential feature of the implantation stage of pregnancy in rhesus macaques and other primates.^13,27,29,37 This process typically begins, and is most prominent, adjacent to the spiral arteries, eventually expanding to affect the endometrium uniformly.³⁵ The endometrial stroma surrounds and supports the endometrial glands and is composed mainly of endometrial stromal cells and blood vessels.³⁵ Decidualization involves proliferation of the endometrial stromal cells, with differentiation into morphologically distinct decidual cells.^7,27,38 Endometrial stromal cells transform into large, polyhedral, cytoplasm-rich cells with large amounts of stored glycogen and are often binucleated or polyploid in character.^{6,13,27,30,35} Ultrastructurally, decidualized cells have numerous ribosomes, prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes, and cytoplasmic accumulation of glycogen and lipid droplets.^13,35 Consistent with their stromal origin, decidualized cells express mesenchymal immunohistochemical markers, such as vimentin, desmin, and muscle-specific actin.^{6,7,14,16,20,22}Initiation of decidualization by attachment of the blastocyst to the uterine epithelium depends on previous sensitization by progesterone secretion, after a brief priming by estrogen.^12,13,27 Estrogen and progesterone regulate a series of complex interactions at the interface between the developing embryo and the cells in the stromal compartment, leading to the formation of a differentiated maternal tissue (decidua) that supports embryo growth and maintains early pregnancy.²⁷ Postovulatory levels of circulating progesterone increase and help maintain the differentiation of decidual cells.^{7,13,33,37,38}Ectopic decidua or ‘deciduosis’ describes the condition in which groups of decidual cells reside outside of the endometrium, most often in the ovaries, uterus, and cervix; the fallopian tubes, peritoneum, omentum, diaphragm, liver, skin, spleen, appendix, abdominal–pelvic lymph nodes, renal pelvis, and lungs of women have also been reported as affected.^{6,14,18,20,22,28,29,38} In humans, most cases of deciduosis are associated with normal pregnancy, and ectopic decidua have been reported in the ovary in 90.5% to 100% of term pregnancies.^{6-8,14,20,22,28-30,38} Occasional cases in nonpregnant or postmenopausal women have been attributed to progesterone-secreting active corpora lutea, progesterone secretion by the adrenal cortex, trophoblastic disease, exogenous progestational agents, and pelvic irradiation.^{6-8,14,18,20,22,28,38} Deciduosis is usually an incidental finding that regresses postpartum within 4 to 6 wk; rarely, florid reactions have been reported to cause peritonitis, adhesions, hydronephrosis and hematuria, acute bowel obstruction or perforation (or both), abdominal pain mimicking appendicitis, massive and occasionally fatal hemoperitoneum, vaginal bleeding, and pneumothorax.^{6,7,14,18,20,22,28,29,31}Previous reports involving nonpregnant rhesus macaques have described localized and widespread endometrial decidualization in response to the administration of progesterone, synthetic progestogens, or progesterone-releasing bioactive intrauterine devices and intravaginal rings and have referred to these changes as ‘pseudodecidualization’ to indicate the absence of pregnancy in these animals.^12,33,35,37 In macaques given low (but superphysiologic) levels of progestogens, decidual changes have been noted in localized regions (around spiral arteries and underneath superficial epithelium), whereas high doses of progesterone or synthetic progestagens can cause a more pronounced and extensive reaction.³⁵In cynomolgus macaques, extrauterine decidual cell plaques are rare histologic findings in the subcoelomic mesenchyme of the ovarian cortex.^8,30 Despite the frequency of the condition in women, deciduosis is postulated to be a rarely documented lesion in primates because it is most often observed in conjunction with pregnancy, and pregnant cynomolgus macaques are seldom used in toxicity studies.⁸ Here we describe the pronounced endometrial decidualization of 2 rhesus macaques, one of which also had florid extrauterine and peritoneal decidualization that was admixed multifocally with carcinomatosis. Both macaques had been treated long-term with medroxyprogesterone acetate for presumed endometriosis, which was confirmed in one of the macaques at postmortem examination. To our knowledge, this report describes the first cases of peritoneal decidualization in rhesus macaques as well as the concurrent occurrence of carcinomatosis, endometriosis and peritoneal decidualization in a macaque. The extensive intermixing of the cell populations presented a diagnostic challenge at pathologic examination, and accurate diagnosis was achieved only through the use of multiple immunohistochemical markers.     

Purification and characterization of metallothionein from liver of cadmium exposed Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Metallothionein (MT) a low molecular weight, Cd-binding, cysteine rich, cytosolic protein has been isolated, purified and characterized from cadmium exposed Rhesus monkeys maintained on protein calorie malnourished (PCM) diet. Metallothionein was resolved into three isoforms i.e. MT_a, MT_b and MTV_c. The ratio of Cd, Zn and Cu varied in these isometallothioneins. MT_c was the major isometallothionein. UV Spectra of MT_c revealed the presence of mercaptide bonds and absence of aromatic amino acids. These observations were further confirmed by amino acid analysis of MT_c which demonstrated high cysteine content (22.6) followed by serine, glycine and lysine. The molecular weight of MT_c as determined by gel filtration and amino acid analysis was 13000 and 6398 daltons respectively. This demonstrates that MT_c is a non-globular ellipsoid polypeptide. MT_c showed a unique property of binding selenium. Monkey liver metallothionein was immunologically identical with human metallothionein. All the characteristics of MT_c obtained in the present study reveal a similarity between monkey and human metallothionein probably due to closer phylogenetic relationship between the two species.     

Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in the Taihang mountains,Jiyuan county,Henan, China

A population of rhesus macaques in the Taihang mountains on the Henan-Shanxi border is probably the northernmost population of the species. A more northerly population north of Beijing was locally extirpated in 1988. In the Taihang mountains, 26 natural groups, with >2000 monkeys, have been found. Six of them have been studied for 8 years. They live in a deciduous forest with temperate climate and cold snowy winters. The average group size is 82 individuals, and the population density is 3.1–7.2 individuals per km². Home rangs are very large, varying from 11 to 22 km². A natural reserve for the rhesus was established at Jiyuan in 1982, and one group, monitored and provisioned since 1984, has increased from 47 to 83 individuals, an increase of 76.5%.