Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026
16:00
Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates
Published on: November 11, 2011
23.1K
Application of Chorionic Villus Sampling to Longitudinal Studies in Pregnant Non-Human Primate Models
Sarah N Cilvik1, Michelle N Sullivan2, Theodore R Hobbs2
1Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Rhesus macaque placental biopsies using ultrasound-guided needle aspiration provide valuable longitudinal data for pregnancy research. This New Approach Method (NAM) improves animal welfare and reduces the need for surgical delivery.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Animal models
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Rhesus macaques are vital models for human pregnancy research due to physiological similarities.
- Previous studies utilized non-invasive imaging and post-delivery tissue analysis.
- Expanding access to longitudinal data from ongoing pregnancies is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate ultrasound-guided needle aspiration for placental biopsies in rhesus macaques.
- To establish a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) simulation model for procedural training.
- To assess the feasibility of serial biopsies for New Approach Methods (NAMs) in pregnancy research.
Main Methods:
- Developed a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) simulation model for training.
- Performed ultrasound-guided needle aspiration for placental biopsies in three rhesus macaques.
- Collected samples serially between gestational days 40 to 106.
Main Results:
- Biopsy samples yielded sufficient tissue for histology, RNA analysis, and trophoblast organoid isolation.
- Achieved good RNA quality and yield from aspirated samples.
- No spontaneous preterm deliveries occurred following serial CVS procedures.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound-guided placental biopsy is a viable method for longitudinal studies in rhesus macaques.
- This New Approach Method (NAM) enhances animal welfare and reduces animal numbers.
- Enables advancements in early pregnancy research by reducing the need for surgical delivery.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Longitudinal Studies
537
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
537
02:20Longitudinal Research
13.5K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.5K
01:30Typical Model Studies
638
Fluid mechanics model studies often utilize scaled-down systems to predict fluid behavior in full-scale environments, such as river flows, dam spillways, and structures interacting with open surfaces. Maintaining Froude number similarity in river models is crucial, as it replicates surface flow features like wave patterns and velocities.
638
02:43Mouse Models of Cancer Study
6.6K
Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
6.6K
01:18Sampling Methods: Sample Types
3.3K
Sampling materials are classified into three main types: solid, liquid, and gas.
Solid samples include a variety of substances, such as sediments from water bodies, soil, metals, and biological tissues. Two standard methods for extracting sediments from water bodies are grab sampling and piston coring. Grab sampling involves using a device to collect a discrete sediment sample from the bottom of a water body with minimal disturbance. Grab samples do not always represent the entire area due to...
Solid samples include a variety of substances, such as sediments from water bodies, soil, metals, and biological tissues. Two standard methods for extracting sediments from water bodies are grab sampling and piston coring. Grab sampling involves using a device to collect a discrete sediment sample from the bottom of a water body with minimal disturbance. Grab samples do not always represent the entire area due to...
3.3K
01:22Case Studies
13.7K
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
13.7K