Nonhuman primates in behavioral toxicology: Issues of validity, ethics and public health

Behavioral evaluation of microwave irradiation

“…The nonhuman primate also serves as a good human model concerning questions of cognitive performance and sensory function. Both of these factors are not well addressed by subprimate species [Evans, 1990]. The rhesus monkey has been a good model for visual [Harwerth, 1985], auditory [Gourevitch, 1970], and cognitive [Evans, 1990] assessments.…”

“…Both of these factors are not well addressed by subprimate species [Evans, 1990]. The rhesus monkey has been a good model for visual [Harwerth, 1985], auditory [Gourevitch, 1970], and cognitive [Evans, 1990] assessments. As described above, the use of primate behavioral data has been very important in developing a safe exposure standard for microwave radiation.…”

Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research

“…Fluid maintenance requirements vary markedly across species; fluid maintenance requirements range from 35 to 140 mL/kg of body weight (BW) per day (Aiello, 1998a;Kirk and Bistner, 1985;NRC, 1995;Wells et al, 1993;Wood et al, 1982). There can also be a wide range of ad libitum consumption levels within a species; for example, daily fluid consumption in nonhuman primates has been reported at 75 mL/kg BW (Kerr, 1972;Wayner, 1964), 90 mL/kg BW (Wayner, 1964), and 110 mL/kg BW (Evans, 1990). There can also be a wide range within a strain; for example, daily ad libitum fluid consumption in 3 different Spraque-Dawley rat colonies was reported at 80 mL/kg BW, 105 mL/kg BW, and 125 mL/kg BW (Wells et al, 1993).…”

“…Limited availability of fluid is a common determinant of consumption in natural settings, and physiologic and behavioral mechanisms have evolved to enable animals to adapt to the limitation. For example, rats and monkeys quickly learn to consume much, if not all, of their daily fluid needs in a short, restricted period (reviewed by Evans, 1990). Species that drink from watering sites only once per day invoke homeostatic mechanisms to control urine output in relation to their hydration state (Toth and Gardiner, 2000).…”

Chronic drug exposures during development in nonhuman primates: models of brain dysfunction in humans

“…The proximity of nonhuman primates to humans on the phylogenetic tree generally qualifies them as the model that most closely approximates the human condition. The ethical use of nonhuman primates for research purposes has been eloquently addressed in detail (8). This greater similarity to humans can be very important especially if one is trying to model human attributes that are not readily observable in other animals.…”