Weight gain in bonnet and pigtail macaques

Area of Science:

• Primatology
• Comparative Anatomy
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Understanding primate growth is crucial for conservation and biomedical research.
• Macaque species exhibit diverse developmental trajectories.
• Obesity is a growing concern in both wild and captive primate populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare developmental weight gain patterns in two macaque species: bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata) and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina).
• To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of spontaneous obesity in Macaca radiata.
• To analyze growth curves of obese and normal Macaca radiata specimens.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal tracking of developmental weight gain in Macaca radiata and Macaca nemestrina.
• Observation and documentation of spontaneous obesity in a subset of Macaca radiata.
• Comparative analysis of growth curves between obese and non-obese Macaca radiata.

Main Results:

• Similarities in certain developmental weight gain patterns were identified between the two macaque species.
• Spontaneous obesity was observed in Macaca radiata.
• Growth curves differed between obese and normal Macaca radiata individuals, indicating distinct weight gain trajectories.

Conclusions:

• Macaca radiata and Macaca nemestrina share some commonalities in developmental weight gain.
• The study identified spontaneous obesity as a phenotype in Macaca radiata, highlighting potential genetic or environmental factors.
• Comparative growth curve analysis provides insights into the pathophysiology of obesity in this primate model.