Biologic Data of Cynomolgus Monkeys Maintained under Laboratory Conditions

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 9;11(6):e0157003. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157003. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) is a well-known non-human primate species commonly used in non-clinical research. It is important to know basal clinical pathology parameters in order to have a reference for evaluating any potential treatment-induced effects, maintaining health status among animals and, if needed, evaluating correct substantiative therapies. In this study, data from 238 untreated cynomolgus monkeys (119 males and 119 females of juvenile age, 2.5 to 3.5 years) kept under laboratory conditions were used to build up a reference database of clinical pathology parameters. Twenty-two hematology markers, 24 clinical chemistry markers and two blood coagulation parameters were analyzed. Gender-related differences were evaluated using statistical analyses. To assess the possible effects of stress induced by housing or handling involved in treatment procedures, 78 animals (35 males and 35 females out of 238 juvenile monkeys and four adult males and four adult females) were used to evaluate cortisol, corticosterone and behavioral assessment over time. Data were analyzed using a non-parametric statistical test and machine learning approaches. Reference clinical pathology data obtained from untreated animals may be extremely useful for investigators employing cynomolgus monkeys as a test system for non-clinical safety studies.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Housing, Animal / standards*
  • Laboratories / standards*
  • Macaca fascicularis / blood*
  • Male
  • Sex Factors
  • Stress, Psychological

Grants and funding

This research was supported and granted by Merck KGaA- Merck 489 Serono. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors MCR, RC and SS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.