We presented here the baseline values of clinical chemistry and hematology parameters in normal Chinese rhesus monkeys. These data may provide valuable information for veterinarians and investigators using rhesus monkeys in experimental studies.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS), defined as an imbalance between excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/ or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production and antioxidant insufficiency, has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of poor ovarian response (POR). Growth hormone (GH) can reduce OS in some cell types. This study investigated whether GH can improve OS and the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes of poor ovarian responders. Methods: This study enrolled 105 patients with POR and 58 patients without POR (controls) who were diagnosed according to the Bologna criteria and underwent conventional IVF-ET. Poor ovarian responders were randomly assigned to two groups: the POR-GH group, which received pretreatment with GH 4 IU/d on day 2 of the previous menstrual cycle before IVF until the trigger day, and the POR-C group, which received no pretreatment. OS markers in follicular fluid (FF), ROS levels in granulosa cells (GCs), and the IVF outcomes of the groups were compared. Results: Endometrial thickness on trigger day, the number of cleaved embryos, the number of higher-quality embryos, and the rates of embryo formation, higher-quality embryo formation, implantation and clinical pregnancy were significantly increased in the POR-GH group compared with the POR-C group (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared to those in the non-POR group, FF malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and ROS levels in GCs were significantly higher, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were significantly lower in the POR-C group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with those in the POR-C group, the FF TAC was significantly increased in the POR-GH group, and TOS, OSI and intracellular ROS levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05).

The pig is not only an economically important livestock animal but is also a valuable model animal for biomedical research and xenotransplantation. Reference values for clinical biochemical and hematological parameters are required for accurate data interpretation while using a pig model. In this study, whole blood samples were collected from 54 healthy Chinese Guizhou minipigs. We analyzed routine biochemical and hematological parameters and special coagulation parameters, including thrombelastography and coagulation factor activities, and have presented the baseline values of these parameters. These data provide valuable information for investigators using minipigs as animal models in biomedical studies and useful physiological data for veterinarians and livestock producers. We also compared all the results for the minipigs with the corresponding data from healthy humans. The bilirubin, uric acid and cholesterol levels of minipigs were significantly lower than those of humans (14%, 0.086% and 48% of human levels, respectively), whereas the serum enzyme levels were much higher than those in humans (e.g. the hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase levels of the minipigs were 19- and 8.4-fold higher than the human reference values). The red blood cell counts, platelet counts and white blood cell counts of the minipigs were significantly higher than those of the humans. The coagulation activities of factor VII and factor X were higher in minipigs than in humans. The significant differences observed between minipigs and humans for many of these parameters suggest substantial interspecies disparities in organs and tissues. These differences merit greater attention in biomedical research involving minipigs, particularly in the area of pig-to-human transplantation.

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