Soybean Hull and Its Effect on Atherosclerosis in Non-Human Primates (Macaca fascicularis)

Twenty five monkeys were used in this experiment. They were divided into 5 groups with 5 animals as the replicates in each group and were adapted for two weeks to the environment before the data were collected. The animals were subjected to 5 experimental diets, i.e. T1 (Basal diet); T2 (Basal diet + palm oil); T3 (Basal diet + palm oil + soybean hull); T4 (Basal diet + cholesterol) and T5 (Basal diet + cholesterol + soybean hull). The diets were given for a period of 8 months and water were given ad lib. Blood serum was taken before and during the experiment. The cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL were measured using the spectrophotometric method. At the end of the experiment thorax surgery was performed on the animals under general anesthesia. The aorta was removed surgicalIy for histopathological observation stained with hematoxylin and eosine.The results showed that the soybean hull decreased the serum cholesterol level in the groups given palm oil (T2 vs T3) and the groups given cholesterol (T4 vs T5) i.e.: 163.4 vs 124.7 mg/dl and 359 vs 288.5 mg/dl respectively. The soybean hull did not significantly affect the serum triglyceride nor the LDL level when palm oil was given in the diet, but it significantly decreased the two parameters where cholesterol was given in the diet (102.5 vs 98.6 mg/dl triglyceride) and (231 .9 vs 183 mg/dl LDL). The soybean hull did not seem to affect the HDL level.Histopathological observation of the aorta indicated that given T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 caused 45%, 41 .67%, 31.25%, 86.25% and 53.38% lesion (Atheroma arteriale) resPectively.It was concluded that the soybean hull given in the diet has the ability to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in the aorta of the experimental animals

Anatomical and Radiological Description of the Macaca fascicularis Spine in Comparison with the Human Spine

Background: This paper describes and displays the spinal radiological anatomy and associated pathology in a Macaca fascicularis and compares it to the spinal anatomy of humans. Animal models are commonly used in research. As compared to Macaca mulatta, the anatomy of M. fascicularis is less well described in the literature. Materials and methods: The authors anatomically reconstructed and reviewed the defleshed spine of a single adult M. fascicularis visually, radiographically, and with high resolution CT. Results: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 6 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 16 caudal vertebrae were identified. Similarities in the spine to humans were seen as well as differences such as the beaked anterior arch of C1, the anterior pointed lower lumbar vertebrae, the upward curved transverse processes, and presence of three sacral segments. Degenerative changes were seen at multiple locations similar to humans though most pronounced at T3-4. Conclusions: This paper addresses the normal spinal anatomy and degenerative changes in an adult M. fascicularis and compares it to humans.

Characterization, isolation, and culture of spermatogonial stem cells in Macaca fascicularis

Spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs)have great applications in both reproductive and regenerative medicine.Primates including monkeys are very similar to humans with regard to physiology and pathology.Nevertheless,little is known about the isolation,the characteristics,and the culture of primate SSCs.This study was designed to identify,isolate,and culture monkey SSCs.Immunocytochemistry was used to identify markers for monkey SSCs.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-1(GFRAl)-enriched spermatogonia were isolated from monkeys,namely Macaca fascicularis(M.fascicularis),by two-step enzymatic digestion and magnetic-activated cell sorting,and they were cultured on precoated plates in the conditioned medium.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),immunocytochemistry,and RNA sequencing were used to compare phenotype and transcriptomes in GFRAl-enriched spermatogonia between 0 day and 14 days of culture,and xenotransplantation was performed to evaluate the function of GFRAl-enriched spermatogonia.SSCs shared some phenotypes with rodent and human SSCs.GFRAl-enriched spermatogonia with high purity and viability were isolated from M.fascicularis testes.The freshly isolated cells expressed numerous markers for rodent SSCs,and they were cultured for 14 days.The expression of numerous SSC markers was maintained during the cultivation of GFRAl-enriched spermatogonia.RNA sequencing reflected a 97.3%similarity in global gene profiles between 0 day and 14 days of culture.The xenotransplantation assay indicated that the GFRAl-enriched spermatogonia formed colonies and proliferated in vivo in the recipient c-Kitw/w(W)mutant mice.Collectively,GFRAl-enriched spermatogonia are monkey SSCs phenotypically both in vitro and in vivo.This study suggests that monkey might provide an alternative to human SSCs for basic research and application in human diseases.

Potential sex differences in activation of pain-related brain regions in nonhuman primates with a unilateral spinal nerve ligation

The lack of truly robust analgesics for chronic pain is owed,in part,to the lack of an animal model that reflects the clinical pain state and of a mechanismbased,objective neurological indicator of pain.The present study examined stimulus-evo ked brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging in male and female cynomolgus macaques following unilateral L7 spinal nerve ligation and the effects of clinical analgesics pregabalin,duloxetine,and morphine on brain activation in these macaques.A modified straight leg raise test was used to assess pain severity in awake animals and to evo ke regional brain activation in anesthetized animals.The potential effects of clinical analgesics on both awake pain behavior and regional brain activation were examined.Following spinal nerve ligation,both male and female macaques showed significantly decreased ipsilateral straight leg raise thresholds,suggesting the presence of radicula rlike pain.Morphine treatment increased straight leg raise thresholds in both males and females whereas duloxetine and pregabalin did not.In male macaques,the ipsilateral straight leg raise activated contralateral insular and somatosensory cortex(Ins/SII),and thalamus.In female macaques,the ipsilateral leg raise activated cingulate cortex and contralateral insular and somatosensory cortex.Straight leg raises of the contralateral,unligated leg did not evoke brain activation.Morphine reduced activation in all brain regions in both male and female macaques.In males,neither pregabalin nor duloxetine decreased brain activation compared with vehicle treatment.In females,however,pregabalin and duloxetine decreased the activation of cingulate cortex compared with vehicle treatment.The current findings suggest a diffe rential activation of brain areas depending on sex following a peripheral nerve injury.Diffe rential brain activation observed in this study could underlie qualitative sexual dimorphism in clinical chronic pain perception and responses to analgesics.Future pain management approaches for neuropathic pain will need to consider potential sex differences in pain mechanism and treatment efficacy.