Effects of Combined Treatment with Compounds Affecting Mitochondria on Physiological Parameters in Old Monkey.

Correction of mitochondrial function is a promising direction for modulating aging processes. The effect of NAD+ (in the form of its precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide, NMN) and antioxidant MitoQ specifically affecting mitochondria was studied on male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The first group of animals initially received only NMN, the second group received only MitoQ, and then both groups received both drugs simultaneously. The above treatment did not lead to changes in the body weight and body temperature, hemostasis, and ECG. The use of MitoQ, but not NMN improved some hematological and biochemical parameters, shifting them to the values of young animals. Changes in these parameters depended on animal age, so the use of MitoQ can only be effective until a certain age. Combined use of the two drugs had no clear advantages over MitoQ alone.

Water Immersion as a Model of Hypogravity.

We studied the effects of hypogravity modeled by water immersion on cognitive functions and physiological parameters of monkeys. Cognitive capacities of monkeys were evaluated using computer-controlled joystick task with food reward in case of target hit. Water immersion (3 days for 3 h) affected in cognitive functions, body temperature, and blood parameters. The intensity of changes depended on the type of monkey behavior. In animals with non-aggressive behavior, the number of target hits did not decrease after water immersion, and even slightly increased. On the contrary, aggressive monkeys showed poorer test performance. Body temperature after each cycle of water immersion was decreased slightly in non-aggressive monkeys, while in aggressive animals, the changes were significant. At the same time, changes in the erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit were significant in non-aggressive monkeys. Our results are in line with previous data performed on BION biosatellites and correspond to changes of physiological parameters in astronauts during space flights.

Functional Parameters of Physiological Systems of Laboratory Primates after Administration of Doxorubicin and Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

We studied physiological parameters of rhesus monkeys after administration of anthracycline antibiotic doxorubicin. Intravenous administration of the drug caused intoxication manifested in in an abrupt body weight loss, baldness, vomiting, and exicosis. Intoxication in monkeys determined by the damaging effects of doxorubicin on organs and tissues is also characterized by significant changes in the blood: leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, monocytopenia, lymphocytosis, and a sharp drop of CD20+ B cell content. The total protein and albumin content in the blood significantly decreased. A sharp increase in C-reactive protein was also accompanied by an increase in activity of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells in some cases can significantly alleviate doxorubicin-induced damage to organs and maintain normal clinical status of monkeys after two injections of the drug. Late transplantation of stem cells does not have a protective effect and does not protect the animals from the damaging effects of doxorubicin. We found that the protective effect of mesenchymal stem cells depends on the dose of the drug, total number of cells, and the time of their transplantation. It should be noted that human and monkey mesenchymal stem cells produce similar regenerative effects, at least in the doxorubicin toxicity model.

Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Possible Repair of Doxorubicin-Damaged Organs and Tissues in Experimental Monkeys.

Three injections of doxorubicin to rhesus macaques cause severe intoxication, characterized by anemia, cachexia, and degeneration of the viscera. The life span of monkeys injected with the drug and receiving after 24 h mesenchymal stem cell transplantation varied from 96 to 120 days in comparison with 50-74 days in animals receiving stem cells before doxorubicin. Controls received doxorubicin and saline; the lifespan of one monkey was 24 days, of the other - 1 year and 8 months. The increase in activity of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 was paralleled by an increase in the level of C-reactive protein.

Transplantation of Simian Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Baboons with Experimentally Induced Myocardial Infarction.

Culture of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the bone marrow of primates by their characteristics met the requirements of stem cells. It was shown that transplantation of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (2 million cells per 1 kg body weight) immediately after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery between the middle and upper thirds led to neovascularization and capillarization of the ischemic myocardium.

Physiological parameters of Macaca fascicularis immunized with anti-rubella vaccine with germanium-based adjuvants.

Clinical status, hematological and biochemical parameters, and allergenic activity of organogermanium compounds used as adjuvants in complex with preparation from Orlov rubella virus vaccine strain and reference commercial anti-rubella vaccine based on Wistar RA 27/3 strain were studied on Macaca fascilcularis of both genders. Physiological parameters of monkeys immunized with the Russian and foreign rubella virus vaccine strains with and without adjuvants did not differ. The adjuvants were inessential for the safety of vaccines (absence of toxicity, reactogenic activity, or allergenic activity) in preclinical studies on lower primates.

Blood glucose levels in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) under moderate stress and after recovery.

We evaluated normal blood glucose levels in two species of monkeys, namely rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) kept in the Breeding Center of the Institute of Medical Primatology. The animals were either under moderate stress due to catching or after recovery of defensive and orienting reactions by habituation to the blood sampling. Based on these data, seasonal, gender- and age-dependent variations in glucose levels were found. Glucose levels in rhesus monkeys accustomed to blood sampling procedures were shown to be substantially lower compared with those in non-adapted gender- and age-matched animals.

Possible aspects of using cultured stem cell of laboratory primates in experimental medicine.

We describe the methods of isolation and culturing of mesenchymal stem cells from 3 monkey species Macaca mulatta, Papio hamadryas, and Macaca fascicularis. Flow cytofluorometry showed that the cells do not express CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR, but most of them (78-98%) express CD90 marker. The cardioprotective effects of cultured mesenchymal stem cells in cardiomyopathy induced by administration of antitumor anthracycline drugs (doxorubicin).

[Action of a nitric oxide donor dinitrosyl complex of iron with glutathione on hemodynamics in rats and monkeys].

We studied action of a nitric oxide donor, dinitrosyl complex of iron (DNIC) with glutathione as a ligand on the hemodynamics of normotensive Wistar rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and monkeys. Intravenous DNIC introduction (2-120 mg/kg) rendered fast (1-2 min) hypotensive effect combined with increased heart rate by 10-25%. Second phase of the effect in Wistar rats was characterized by slowed recovery of arterial pressure and heart rate up to initial level. A gradual DNIC breakdown in blood occurred during this period associated with increased NO accumulation in organs with intensive oxidative metabolism (liver, heart, and kidney). Duration of hypotensive effect in all animals depended on dose, this dependence was most expressed in SHR.

[Evaluation on monkeys of reactogenicity and effectiveness of the complex immunoglobulin preparation formulation]. / Otsenka na obez'ianakh reaktogennocti i éffektivnosti lekarstvennykh form kompleksnogo immunoglobulinovogo preparata.

Experiments on 75 monkeys, 20--healthy and 75--with diarrhea, showed that ready medicinal forms of the complex immunoglobulin preparation in tablets, capsules or in a dried form (vials) were safe, well tolerated, clinically and bacteriologically effective. When used simultaneously with antiparasitic treatment, this preparation, irrespective of the kind of its ready medicinal form, showed high curative effect (80-90%). The diarrhea ceasing was accompanied by the gradual normalization of intestinal microbiocenosis (an increased concentrations of Escherichia coli and Bifidobacterium, a decreased amount of opportunistic bacteria). The complex method of the treatment of diarrhea in monkeys (antibiotics, trichopol, phage and probiotics) made it possible to achieve curative effect only in 60% of cases, which required the additional course of treatment, namely the use of rehydration therapy.