Patrón de comportamiento de monos ardilla (Saimiri sciureus macrodon) cautivos con diferentes enriquecimientos ambientales / Behavioral patterns of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus macrodon) captive with different environmental enrichment / Padrões de comportamento de macacos-de-chiero (Saimiri sciureus macrodon) em cativeiro com diferentes enriquecimentos ambientais

Las implicaciones del cautiverio sobre el comportamiento de los animales han sido muy bien documentadas, peropocos son los recursos existentes para la modificación de su efecto. Esta primer experiencia realizada en el Hogar dePaso de Fauna Silvestre (HPFS) de la Universidad de la Amazonía y Corpoamazonía, en Florencia- Caquetá, además de describir el patrón de comportamiento y de actividades expresadas por el mono ardilla en cautiverio (Saimirisciureus macrodon), en análisis comparativo con especímenes de la especie en vida silvestre, estableció mecanismosde modulación de la conducta, a partir del uso de enriquecimientos ambientales. La investigación realizada sobre un grupo conformado por doce especímenes en diferentes estadíos de desarrollo biológico, confinados en un encierro no mayor a los cuatro metros cuadrados, encontró, a través de la aplicación de etogramas, que los especímenes cautivos presentan grandes variaciones en sus actividades diarias y una gran cantidad de estereotipos que se hacíanevidentes en los horarios de alimentación (Horas de la mañana). Dichas conductas lograron ser moduladas con enriquecimientos ambientales (EA). Los resultados establecen la presencia de diferencias significativas del tipo decomportamiento y de actividad, entre los especímenes cautivos y los de vida libre, además de diferencias en rangosde peso, temperatura corporal y niveles de glucosa, siendo mayores en especímenes cautivos, lo que indica quefactores como cambios en la alimentación y el stress del cautiverio, son causantes del desequilibrio homeostático de S. sciureus.

The implications of captivity on animal behavior have been well documented, but few resources exist to alter its effect. This first experience, carried out at the Wildlife Foster Home of the Universidad de la Amazonía andCorpoamazonía, in Florencia, Caquetá, in addition to describing behavioral and activity patterns expressed bythe captive squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus macrodon) in comparison with specimens in the wild, establishedmechanisms for conduct modulation, based on the use of environmental enrichments. Research conducted on agroup of twelve specimens, in different stages of biological development and confined to an enclosure no largerthan four square meters, found through the application of ethograms that the captive specimens’ daily activitiesvary widely and that a great many stereotypes were evident at feeding times (morning hours). These behaviors were able to be modulated by environmental enrichments (EE). Results show the presence of significant differences in behavior and activity between captive specimens and those in the wild, as well as differences in weight ranges, body temperature and glucose levels, being higher in captive specimens, which indicate that factors such as changes in diet and the stress of captivity are causing homeostatic imbalance of S. sciureus.

As implicações de cativeiro sobre o comportamento dos animais têm sido bem documentadas, mas há poucosrecursos disponíveis para a modificação de seu efeito. Esta primeira experiência realizada no Lar Adotivo deFauna Silvestre da Universidad de la Amazonía e Corpoamazonía em Florencia – Caquetá, além de descrever o padrão de comportamento e atividades expressas pelo macaco-de-cheiro em cativeiro (Saimiri sciureus macrodon),em análise comparativa com espécimes da espécie na vida silvestre, estabeleceu mecanismos de modulação do comportamento, a partir do uso de enriquecimento ambiental. A pesquisa foi realizada em um grupo composto dedoze espécimes em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento biológico, confinados em um recinto não maior quequatro metros quadrados, através de estudos de etogramas foi verificado que as atividades diárias dos espécimes emcativeiro variam muito e que um grande número de estereótipos eram evidentes às vezes na alimentação (horas damanhã). Esses comportamentos foram capazes de ser modulados por enriquecimento ambiental (EA). Os resultados estabelecem a presença de diferenças significativas no tipo de comportamento e de atividade, entre os espécimes em cativeiro e os de vida livre, além das diferenças em várias categorias de peso, temperatura corporal e níveis de glicose, sendo maior nos espécimes em cativeiro, o que indica que os fatores como mudanças na dieta e estresse docativeiro estão causando desequilíbrio homeostático de S. sciureus.

Dissociation between short-term increased graft survival and long-term functional improvements in Parkinsonian rats overexpressing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor.

The present study was designed to analyse whether continuous overexpression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the striatum by a recombinant lentiviral vector can provide improved cell survival and additional long-term functional benefits after transplantation of fetal ventral mesencephalic cells in Parkinsonian rats. A four-site intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesion resulted in an 80-90% depletion of nigral dopamine cells and striatal fiber innervation, leading to stable motor impairments. Histological analysis performed at 4 weeks after grafting into the GDNF-overexpressing striatum revealed a twofold increase in the number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells, as compared with grafts placed in control (green fluorescent protein-overexpressing) animals. However, in animals that were allowed to survive for 6 months, the numbers of surviving TH-positive cells in the grafts were equal in both groups, suggesting that the cells initially protected at 4 weeks failed to survive despite the continued presence of GDNF. Although cell survival was similar in both grafted groups, the TH-positive fiber innervation density was lower in the GDNF-treated grafted animals (30% of normal) compared with animals with control grafts (55% of normal). The vesicular monoamine transporter-2-positive fiber density in the striatum, by contrast, was equal in both groups, suggesting that long-term GDNF overexpression induced a selective down-regulation of TH in the grafted dopamine neurons. Behavioral analysis in the long-term grafted animals showed that the control grafted animals improved their performance in spontaneous motor behaviors to approximately 50% of normal, whereas the GDNF treatment did not provide any additional recovery.