Selection and Pairing of 'Normal' Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta) for Research.

摘要

To select a homogeneous population of experimental nonhuman primates for research projects a selection process has been developed by the authors to insure investigators that animal subjects used in their experiments will accurately reflect biological changes associated with the project design. The procedure involved the following: complete physical examination; complete hemogram, serum electrolytes, serum biochemistry, body weight, and anthropometric determinations; aging by dentition; electrocardiography; total-body radiography; fecal culture; fecal ova, and parasite examinations; and examination of other conditions. Arithmetic means and standard deviations were calculated and used to eliminate monkeys whose values varied from the mean by more than two standard deviations. On the basis of the selection criteria, 47 of the original 120 monkeys in the group were deleted due to abnormalities, severe illness, disability, or death. Also described are: the methods and techniques used to select paired rhesus monkeys on the basis of normal values established for the population from which they were derived, the reasons for rejecting subjects, and some observations and experiences of the authors. Specific techniques for cholecystography and intravenous pyelography in rhesus monkeys using radio-opaque contrast media have been detailed. (Author)