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Obesity in free-ranging rhesus macaques
S M Schwartz1, J W Kemnitz, C F Howard
1Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00936.
Summary
Spontaneous obesity affects 7% of free-ranging rhesus macaques, with no significant gender differences in incidence or body fat. While higher insulin levels correlated with adiposity, metabolic indices remained largely within normal limits.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Spontaneous obesity is observed in some free-ranging rhesus macaque populations.
- Understanding obesity in non-human primates provides insights into metabolic health in mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess spontaneous obesity in rhesus macaques.
- To investigate body size, fat distribution, metabolic indices, and social factors in obese macaques.
Main Methods:
- Morphometric indices were used to define obesity (adiposity > 2 s.d. above the mean).
- Evaluated body weight, body fat distribution, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, testosterone, glucose clearance, fasting insulin, and insulin response.
- Assessed social and familial factors, including matriline rank.
Main Results:
- Seven percent (11/157) of adult macaques were obese, with no significant gender differences in incidence or body fat.
- Obese males were older on average than obese females.
- Serum triglyceride levels were slightly higher in obese animals, but metabolic indices like glucose clearance and insulin response were not significantly different.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous obesity in this rhesus macaque colony is influenced by age and potentially familial factors.
- While adiposity correlated with insulin, overt metabolic dysfunction was not evident in obese individuals.
- Further research is needed to explore the long-term health implications and genetic predispositions of obesity in this species.