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Plasma cortisol in the chronic rhesus monkey preparation (Macaca mulatta)
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|October 15, 1978
Summary
Surgical procedures and chair restraint cause stress in rhesus monkeys, but animals acclimate over time. Maternal cortisol rhythms return during pregnancy, while fetal cortisol shows no consistent pattern.
Area of Science:
- Primate physiology
- Endocrinology
- Surgical stress response
Background:
- Cortisol levels are influenced by physiological stressors.
- Understanding stress in pregnant and nonpregnant primates is crucial for research.
- Chronic catheterization and chair restraint are common in primate studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the short- and long-term effects of surgery and chair restraint on plasma cortisol in rhesus monkeys.
- To investigate cortisol patterns in pregnant and nonpregnant animals, including fetuses.
- To evaluate the stress response and acclimation to experimental procedures.
Main Methods:
- Chronic venous catheterization and chair restraint in adult rhesus monkeys (3 nonpregnant, 6 pregnant).
- Daily blood sampling (morning and evening) for total plasma cortisol analysis.
- Simultaneous fetal plasma sampling from pregnant animals.
Main Results:
- Nonpregnant monkeys exhibited a return of circadian cortisol rhythm within a day of catheterization and restraint.
- Pregnant monkeys showed an initial postoperative cortisol increase, followed by a decline and rhythm restoration.
- Fetal cortisol displayed no consistent daily fluctuations and an uncertain correlation with maternal cortisol levels.
Conclusions:
- Surgical procedures induce a significant, albeit temporary, stress response in rhesus monkeys.
- Acclimation to chair restraint occurs, with circadian cortisol rhythms re-establishing.
- Maternal and fetal cortisol dynamics during pregnancy require further investigation.