Detection of early myocardial cell death in owl monkeys (Aotus nancymai) using complement component C9
Alfonso S Gozalo1, Lynn E Lambert2, Patricia M Zerfas3
1Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Background:
Owl monkeys are commonly used in biomedical research which is affected by the high incidence of cardiomyopathy in this species. Occasionally, owl monkeys with no clinical signs of heart disease are found dead and at necropsy show no, or very mild, cardiomyopathy. A possible explanation for sudden death is acute myocardial infarction; however, early myocardial changes may be difficult to assess by conventional stains and light microscopy.
Methods:
Complement component C9 immunohistochemistry was performed in paraffin-embedded heart tissue samples from owl monkeys who died suddenly, or were euthanized due to sickness, to determine whether these animals suffered from acute myocardial infarcts.
Results And Conclusion:
C9 deposits were found in the myocardium of 19 out of 20 (95%) animals. The findings in this study suggest owl monkeys suffer from acute myocardial infarcts, and complement component C9 immunohistochemistry may be a useful diagnostic tool.
