Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
19.4K
Spontaneous Pituitary Adenomas in Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)
Gregory J Daggett1, Jennifer S Wood2, Sanjeev Gumber3
1Veterinary Services Unit, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
Comparative Medicine
|November 22, 2019
Summary
Two geriatric squirrel monkeys unexpectedly developed pituitary adenomas. These thyrotrophic and corticotrophic tumors are the first documented cases in this species.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Primate Medicine
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Geriatric captive squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) are valuable models in biomedical research.
- Pituitary gland tumors are uncommon in non-human primates, with limited data on their spontaneous occurrence.
Observation:
- Postmortem examination of two geriatric male squirrel monkeys revealed pituitary masses.
- These masses were incidental findings, unrelated to any experimental procedures.
- The animals were euthanized for reasons unrelated to the pituitary masses.
Findings:
- Histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the pituitary masses as thyrotrophic and corticotrophic adenomas.
- These findings represent the first documented instances of these specific pituitary tumor types in squirrel monkeys.
Implications:
- This study highlights the potential for spontaneous pituitary adenomas in aging squirrel monkeys.
- Understanding the incidence and types of spontaneous tumors is crucial for interpreting research involving this species.
- These findings contribute to the comparative pathology of pituitary tumors in primates.
