The baboon: an ideal model in biomedical research

The baboon is a good animal model for research and investigations in physiology and pathophysiology, also using radiopharmaceutical techniques. It has several similarities to the human being, and all parameters in human physiology can be measured in the baboon model with the same or equal technical equipment. Fourier phase analysis in radionuclide ventriculography, hemodynamic reactions in a septic shock model, and investigations in conjunction with local anesthetics (eg, effects on cerebral blood flow) are typical types of research that have been or are currently being performed on the baboon. Institutes using the baboon model must be equipped with all instruments and operating facilities as would be needed for investigations in human beings. Ethical considerations must be regarded strictly and supervised by an ethics committee. Protocols must determine exactly why in vivo experimentation is preferred to in vitro tests. Anesthesia techniques in a baboon model allow study on the animal itself, eliminate pain (and stress) to the animal, and should not interfere with the aims of the investigation being performed.