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Biomedical subjects

D Cowley

Publications and source records attributed to D Cowley.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Serum cortisol concentrations of single-housed and isosexually pair-housed adult rhesus macaques.

Possible social distress was evaluated in 20 adult rhesus macaques housed in compatible isosexual pairs (5 female pairs, 5 male pairs) for the purpose of social environmental enrichment. Serum cortisol concentrations of paired animals were compared with serum cortisol concentrations of individually housed adult rhesus macaques of both sexes (5 females, 5 males). In both sexes, cortisol concentrations of paired animals (means 10 females = 19.5 +/- 2.9 micrograms/dl; means 10 males = 17.5 +/- 4.6 micrograms/dl) showed no significant difference (p always greater than 0.1) with those of single animals (means 5 females = 20.5 +/- 2.1 micrograms/dl; means 5 males = 15.9 +/- 2.6 micrograms/dl). Both in male and in female pairs, dominant partners had cortisol concentrations that were equivalent to those of their subordinate counterparts. It was concluded that neither female nor male adult rhesus macaques experience more distress when sharing a cage with a compatible partner of the same sex than when living alone.

Animals

Cortisol response of female rhesus monkeys to venipuncture in homecage versus venipuncture in restraint apparatus.

Cortisol response of ten single-caged adult female rhesus monkeys during venipuncture in a restraint apparatus was compared with cortisol response of ten paired and five single-caged adult female rhesus monkeys during venipuncture in the homecage. Results demonstrated that in-homecage venipuncture offers a methodological improvement for research protocols that require blood collection of undisturbed animals.

Animals

Characteristics of placebo response during long-term treatment of panic disorder.

Mixed-panic disorder patients (16/60, 27%) randomly assigned to receive blind placebo during a 40-week treatment study were defined as placebo responders based on combined criteria of Hamilton Anxiety Scale score percentage decreases below the median point (-42%), moderate to marked improvement on both clinician and patient Clinical Global Impressions scores, and panic-free at final treatment visit. These criteria applied separately also resulted in a similar clinical grouping and pattern of response. Differential patterns of response between responders and nonresponders occurred across most clinical measures of panic/anxiety. Responders experienced early improvement within the first week of double-blind treatment. This response progressed during treatment and tended to persist during taper and at followup 1 month later. Post-hoc analysis of demographic and clinical features at entrance into the study failed to characterize this stringently defined group of placebo responders.

Adult

Alternatives to single caging of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) used in research.

Alternatives to single caging of laboratory rhesus monkeys were explored. 1. Surplus infants (12-18 months old) from breeding troops were paired with 48 adult females (6-28 years old) and 12 adult males (8-28 years old) that had lived alone for several years. Adults and infants were not related. The partners were compatible in 87% (42/48) and 83% (10/12) of cases, respectively, throughout follow-up periods of 16-25 months. The young companions reached 28-44 months of age during that time. 2. Forty-six unrelated adult female rhesus monkeys (7-23 years old) and 10 unrelated adult male rhesus monkeys (8-16 years old) that had lived alone for several years were familiarized in isosexual dyads and then paired in different cages. Paired companions were compatible in 83% (19/23) and 80% (4/5) of cases, respectively, throughout follow-up periods of 9-24 months. Of all animals tested, 2% (3/176) received a bleeding but not life-threatening wound by an incompatible partner. Pairing previously individually caged rhesus monkeys did not interfere with the following research protocols: tethering of one partner for remote collection; head-cap implantation on one or both partners; chair-restraining of one partner while the other is kept close by for psychological support; in-cage venipuncture of both partners (attempted with females only); temporary (1-7 d) partner separation for timed breeding or for experimental surgery. Pairing singly caged adult rhesus monkeys with infant or with other adult companions is recommended as an effective way to promote the animals' wellbeing by enabling them to express their inherent need for social contact.

Aggression