Evolutionary and comparative anatomical investigations of the autonomic cardiac nervous system in the African Cercopithecidae

The purpose of this study was to clarify the general architecture and morphological variations of the autonomic cardiac nervous system (ACNS) in the African Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys), and to discuss the evolutionary changes between this system in African/Asian Cercopithecidae and humans. A detailed macroscopic comparative morphological investigation of the ACNS was performed by examining the left and right sides of 11 African cercopithecid specimens, including some previously unreported species (Abyssinian colobus, Angola pied colobus, Savanna monkey, and lesser white-nosed guenon). The common characteristics of the ACNS in the African Cercopithecidae are described in detail. Consequently, homologies of the ACNS between Asian (macaques) and African Cercopithecidae, and differences between the Asian/African Cercopithecidae and humans, were found. In particular, differences in the sympathetic (cardiac) systems of the Cercopithecidae and humans were recognized, despite the similar morphology of the parasympathetic vagal (cardiac) system. These differences include the composition of the cervicothoracic ganglion, the lower positions of the middle cervical and cervicothoracic ganglia, and the narrow range for the origin of the cardiac nerves in the Cercopithecidae, compared with that in humans. In conclusion, these findings are considered with regard to the morphology of the last common ancestors of the Cercopithecidae.     

Using perturbations to identify the brain circuits underlying active vision

The visual and oculomotor systems in the brain have been studied extensively in the primate. Together, they can be regarded as a single brain system that underlies active vision—the normal vision that begins with visual processing in the retina and extends through the brain to the generation of eye movement by the brainstem. The system is probably one of the most thoroughly studied brain systems in the primate, and it offers an ideal opportunity to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the series of perturbation techniques that have been used to study it. The perturbations have been critical in moving from correlations between neuronal activity and behaviour closer to a causal relation between neuronal activity and behaviour. The same perturbation techniques have also been used to tease out neuronal circuits that are related to active vision that in turn are driving behaviour. The evolution of perturbation techniques includes ablation of both cortical and subcortical targets, punctate chemical lesions, reversible inactivations, electrical stimulation, and finally the expanding optogenetic techniques. The evolution of perturbation techniques has supported progressively stronger conclusions about what neuronal circuits in the brain underlie active vision and how the circuits themselves might be organized.     

SHIV1157ipd3N4细胞适应株的制备及其生物特性

目的体外制备SHIV1157ipd3N4病毒中国恒河猴细胞适应株,在细胞水平和中国恒河猴体内评价其生物学特性。方法用SHIV1157ipd3N4病毒阴道感染中国恒河猴,在血浆病毒载量高峰期采血分离外周血单核淋巴细胞（PBMCs）,与正常中国恒河猴PBMCs共培养。定期测定培养液中的P24抗原水平。当病毒复制达高峰期时收集培养上清,分装并冻存。测定病毒RNA载量、P24抗原浓度和TCID50。静脉感染中国恒河猴,研究该批次SHIV1157ipd3N4在体内的病毒学、免疫学指标变化及变异情况,分析其基本的生物学特性。结果本研究共制备了243 mL SHIV1157ipd3N4病毒原液,gp120序列分析表明病毒未发生变异,CCR5的嗜性也未发生改变。病毒载量为1.586×108 copies/mL,P24抗原水平为1.16×103 pg/mL,TZM-bl细胞测定病毒的TCID50为3.16×103/mL。1 mL SHIV1157ipd3N4静脉成功感染中国恒河猴G1004V,高峰期病毒载量达到1.0×106 copies/mL以上。结论此次制备的SHIV1157ipd3N4细胞适应株生物学特性稳定,适合作为毒种库构建SHIV1157ipd3N4/中国恒河猴模型。     

实验猴身份自动识别、自动捕捉、电子芯片数据信息管理系统的研制

目的通过电子芯片植入与识别技术和计算机管理系统对接,建立每只实验猴的数据档案,其中包括遗传谱系、生理数据、实验记录。方法通过建立实验猴的电子通道,以非接触方式通过计算机管理,应用射频识别信号系统,实现实验猴身份快速自动识别、自动捕捉、数据读写、电子档案信息管理、数据远程传输的目的,减少人为因素对实验猴的干扰和引起的应激反应。结果该系统的建立极大的减少了实验和饲养实验猴过程中捕捉猴的困难,身份识别困难,减少了对工作人员和实验猴的伤害,减轻了工作量,减低了人为因素对实验结果的干扰和动物应激反应对实验数据的影响。电子档案具有终身有效,随猴携带,全球唯一序列号,不可复制,不可仿制,标签唯一性。结论实验猴身份自动识别、自动捕捉、电子芯片数据信息管理系统的研制成功,为实验动物个体电子档案建立和群体数据库的管理提供了一种高速、有效、科学、可靠的计算机管理手段,改变通道模式即可应用于大型凶猛动物或不适合人接触捕捉动物的识别和管理,具有广泛的应用前景,目前在国内外尚无同类系统。     

Timing of births in sympatric brown howler monkeys (Alouatta fusca clamitans) and northern muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides hypoxanthus).

We monitored the birth patterns of sympatric brown howler monkeys (Alouatta fusca clamitans) and northern muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides hypoxanthus) during a 4‐yr period from October 1996 to August 2000 at the Estação Biológica de Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Brown howler monkey births (n = 34) occurred throughout the year, and birth frequencies did not differ between rainy and dry season months. The aseasonal birth patterns of the howler monkeys differed significantly from the dry season concentration and dry month peak in muriqui births (n = 23). We found no effects of infant sex or the number of females on interbirth intervals (IBIs) in our 10 howler monkey study troops. IBIs of brown howler monkeys averaged 21.2 ± 2.5 mo (n = 8, median = 21.0 mo), and were significantly shorter following dry season births than rainy season births. Their IBIs and yearling survivorship (74%) were similar to those reported for other species of howler monkeys, but yearling survivorship was much lower than that of muriquis (94%), whose IBIs were more than 12 mo longer than those of the howler monkeys. Our study extends comparative knowledge of birth patterns in Alouatta to a poorly known species, and provides insights into the different ways in which diet and life history may affect the timing of births in large‐bodied platyrrhines under the same seasonal ecological conditions. Am. J. Primatol. 55:87–100, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Sequential analysis of the social behavior of infants in groups of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata fuscata)

We employed techniques of behavioral entropy to carry out a quantitative analysis of sequences of behavioral patterns evident in the interaction between infants and other members of a group of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata fuscata). The group concerned included examples both of monkeys in captivity and in the wild state. The results were examined as a function of the animal age and environmental differences (cage-field). An example is given to illustrate the use of information theory. Findings partially confirmed that the variability of social behavior decreases as the age of the animals increases.     

Enhanced expressions of endometrial tumour necrosis factor alpha and its receptors during early pregnancy in bonnet monkeys

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a pro-inflammatory cytokine may play an active role in stimulating inflammatory reactions during pregnancy. However, the expression of endometrial TNF-alpha has not been investigated especially during early pregnancy, a phenomenon invariably accompanied by inflammatory reaction. In the present study, the endometrial expressions of TNF-alpha and its receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) during early pregnancy, when the embryo lies free in the zona hatched state in the uterine lumen, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The endometrial expressions of TNF-alpha, TNFR1 and TNFR2 were found to be significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05) in the glandular epithelium on day 6 post-ovulation in pregnant animals. The alteration in the expression of these molecules may contribute to the induction of local inflammatory reactions during implantation.     

Grasping behavior in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): grip types and manual laterality for picking up a small food item

This study investigates prehension in 20 tufted capuchins (Cebus apella) in a reaching task requiring individuals to grasp a small food item fixed to a tray. The aim was twofold: 1) to describe capuchins' grasping techniques in detail, focusing on digit movements and on different areas of contact between the grasping fingers; and 2) to assess the relationship between grip types and manual laterality in this species. Capuchins picked up small food items using a wide variety of grips. In particular, 16 precision grip variants and 4 power grip variants were identified. The most frequently used precision grip involved the distal lateral areas of the thumb and the index finger, while the most preferred kind of power grip involved the thumb and the palm, with the thumb being enclosed by the other fingers. Immature capuchins picked up small food items using power grips more often than precision grips, while adult individuals exhibited no significant preference for either grip type. The analysis performed on the time capuchins took to grasp the food and withdraw it from the tray hole revealed that 1) precision grips were as efficient as power grips; 2) for precision grips, the left hand was faster than the right hand; and 3) for power grips, both hands were equally quick. Hand preference analysis, based on the frequency for the use of either hand for grasping actions, revealed no significant hand bias at group level. Likewise, there was no significant relationship between grip type and hand preference.     

提高实验猴繁殖率的综合措施

实验猴繁殖率的高低直接影响实验猴养殖企业的经济效益。本文借鉴本中心多年实验猴繁育经验,总结了一套较为完备的提高实验猴繁殖率的措施,内容涵盖实验猴繁殖特性、种公猴选种、繁殖猴分群及梯度饲养、孕猴用药、母猴产后护理、仔猴补饲及断奶、繁殖猴饲料搭配等各方面。这些措施应用于实践后,实验猴繁殖率可保持在较高水平并逐年提高。我们认为这些措施可在其它实验猴养殖企业推广应用。