Search

Neuroscience is progressively increasing its comprehension of the normal functioning of the central and peripheral nervous system. Such understanding is essential to challenge important neurodegenerative disorders and clinical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, etc. The aim of neuroscience research is to improve understanding of normal and pathological functions and to develop therapeutic strategies and tools. Fundamental neuroscience utilizes a variety of techniques which include: electrophysiology, imaging, and computational modelling and entails interactions with clinical studies. Non-human primates are the closest species to humans in terms of biological, physiological, immunological and neurological characteristics; their closeness has been, and is still, an important reason for using them in biomedical studies. These animals have a vertebrate brain that is most like that of humans in terms of neural circuitry and this, together with similarities with human physiological and behavioural characteristics, makes them more valuable and accurate models of neurological and psychiatric diseases than other animals. This article provides an overview of the contribution of non-human primate models in fundamental neuroscience research and in generating clinically relevant findings and therapeutic developments., Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Vol 36, No 1 (2009)

The airn of the symposium is to discuss some issues related to non-human primate welfare, primarily in the context of biomedical research. The use of primates for experimental and scientific purposes is a matter of concem to the public and requires full regard for the high degree of neuro-physiological sensitivity of these anirnals. The symposium will give consideration to husbandry practices and methods to improve the well-being of New and Old World primates, taking into account the criteria which should be considered when assessing housing design. The variables that are most influential in affecting animal welfare and that might produce atypical behaviours will be evaluated. The topics of the symposium will include proposals for the refinement of primate models and recommendations for the education and training of personnel involved, at all levels, in the maintenance, care and experimental use of primates. The opportunities to minimise the impact of scientific procedures by training the primates to co-operate with researchers and technicians will be addressed. The symposium will also examine ethical-philosophical issues related to animal experiments. Regard will be given to the proposals for revision of the European guidelines for the housing and care of non-human primates used for experimental purposes within Europe.

This symposium will outline the revisions being made to the IPS International Guidelines for theAcquisition, Care and Breeding ofNon-human Primates' by the IPS Captive Care Committee. Topics will cover ali areas of relevance to primate care bringing forth new information on captive care issues, such as: (l) Capture from the Wild, (2) International Shipments, (3) Institutional Policies, (4) Housing Requirements, (5) Health Monitoring, (6) Breeding, (7) Experimental and Ethical Issues, and (8) Codes of Practice. The preliminary list of participants include the Captive Care Committee members: Colleen McCann, Sylvia Taylor, Lisa Jones-Engel, Helena Fitch-Snyder, Kay Farmer, Hannah Buchannan-Smith and Mark Prescott.

The effects of age, sex, pregnancy, were analyzed and data from fasted and fed animals were compared in a population of cynomolgus macaques. No significant sex effects were observed for biochemical values and no changes were found in male hematological parameters in relation to age. Most values of females during pregnancy were within normal ranges. Comparison between fed and fasted animals showed that several biochemical parameters (e.g., ALT, glucose, CPK, LDH) and several hematological parameters (e.g., monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, hemoglobin, MCV, MCHC, and MCH) were affected by food intake.