Salivary testosterone levels in normal and testosterone treated monkeys.

Area of Science:

• Primate Endocrinology
• Comparative Physiology

Background:

• Hormone monitoring is crucial in animal research.
• Salivary testosterone is a non-invasive biomarker in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate salivary testosterone as a reliable indicator of serum testosterone in cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys.
• To assess the utility of non-human primate models for human salivary testosterone research.

Main Methods:

• Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure testosterone concentrations in paired saliva and serum samples.
• Samples were collected from adult male cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys under ketamine anesthesia.
• Testosterone levels were analyzed before and after testosterone propionate administration.

Main Results:

• Mean basal salivary testosterone levels were 195 +/- 22 pmol/l in cynomolgus monkeys and 147 +/- 10 pmol/l in rhesus monkeys.
• Salivary testosterone represented approximately 0.9% (cynomolgus) and 1.6% (rhesus) of serum testosterone concentrations.
• Salivary and serum testosterone levels increased in parallel after testosterone administration, showing a strong correlation.

Conclusions:

• Salivary testosterone determination is a valid index of free testosterone in cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys.
• The monkey serves as a suitable animal model for human studies involving salivary testosterone monitoring.