ABSTRACT
The endocrine profile during normal postpartum amenorrhea in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) closely resembles that of women, and its duration is similarly extended by nursing. However, when infant chimpanzees in our colony were removed at birth, excessively prolonged postpartum amenorrhea (7-26 months duration) occurred in 24% of cases. Our endocrine studies indicate that such prolonged postpartum amenorrhea (PPAm) is a pathological condition associated with chronically elevated serum prolactin levels and galactorrhea. In the absence of nursing, we sought an alternate behavioral basis for PPAm. Breast and genital auto- and partner-directed manipulation was compared in PPAm chimpanzees, normal 2-3 mo. postpartum chimpanzees (infants removed at birth), and regularly-menstruating chimpanzees. A statistically significant pattern of breast, but not genital, manipulation was observed in the PPAm group only, at levels comparable to normal suckling. In particular, a characteristic pattern of nipple auto-manipulation (spooling) occurred. Two partner-stimulated PPAm animals were also identified: when caged individually, they resumed cycling within a few days. In contrast, 2 self-stimulators did not resume cyclicity when isolated. These observations suggested that interruption of breast stimulation allowed cyclicity to resume. Treatment of PPAm chimpanzees with oral Bromocryptine Mesylate (Sandoz, 2.5-5.0 mg b.i.d.) was associated with depression of prolactin levels in most animals and resumption of cyclicity in 11/13 subjects within 4 months. Oral Pergolide (Eli Lilly, 200 µg once daily, 13-17 days), appeared much more effective, cyclicity resumed in 8/8 animals within 14 days of commencing treatment; both drugs significantly reduced postpartum amenorrhea duration.
ABSTRACT
The Primate Research Institute (PRI) dedicated a colony of 81 proven breeders (60 females, 21 males) to the National Chimpanzee Breeding and Research Program (NCBRP). When possible, infants were left with their mothers for a minimum of 18 months. Programs to define and reduce fetal wastage and neonatal mortality were implemented. Pregnancies were diagnosed both by RIA for serum chorionic gonadotropin and by ultrasound prior to day 30 of pregnancy. Of 65 pregnancies detected by ultrasound and RIA, 15 (23%) resulted in fetal loss. Without the use of ultrasound and RIA, only 8 of these losses would have been detected. Infant mortality (7 of 53 live births; 13%) was primarily due to maternal abuse or problems related to premature delivery. The incidence of losses due to maternal abuse has been reduced by placing females in single cages 2 weeks prior to their estimated delivery date so endangered infants can be recognized and removed. The new system provided the first opportunity for most of the mothers to care for their infants; 25 succeeded (in 2 instances in the second pregnancy only) and 12 did not (infants from 2 mothers were removed due to delivery of twins). During this 26-month period the colony grew by 46 infants (58%), half of which will be retained as future breeders. Thus, the NCBRP goal of achieving a self-sustaining population appears viable.
ABSTRACT
A 3-year-old female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) was found to have inappropriately high circulating immunoassayable follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels compatible with primary gonadal failure. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism was confirmed by the findings of persistently high serum gonadotropin levels by both LH bioassay and FSH and LH radioimmunoassays and low levels of serum estradiol. In addition, circhoral gonadotropin pulsatility and an exaggerated response to a gonadotropin-releasing hormone challenge were demonstrated. Both FSH and LH coeluted in a single peak on gel filtration column chromatography. Clinically, the animal showed the following features of Turner syndrome: small body size, sexual underdevelopment, gonadal streaks with absent follicles, and a chromosomal constitution of 41,X. A similar case has been reported previously in a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Considering the fetal and live birth prevalences in humans of aneuploidy in general and X-monosomy in particular, one would predict that this chromosomal aberration underlies a high number of pregnancy failures in nonhuman primates.
