A Longitudinal Study of the Kidney Function of the Chimpanzee(Pan troglodytes)in Comparison with Humans

Abstract

A prospective study of the kidney function of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) kept at the Hans Popper Primate Centre has been performed within the last 10 years. The aim of the study was to analyse urine samples for specific gravity, to determine serum creatinine, serum urea, and urinary creatinine, and to calculate creatinine clearance and reference values for healthy chimpanzees. From 1750 urine specimens of adolescent and 568 of infant chimpanzees a mean specific gravity value of 1.013 ± 0.006 (standard deviation) kg/1 and 1.007 ± 0.003 (standard deviation) kg/1, respectively, was calculated. Serum creatinine was determined in 1864 single samples from 52 chimpanzees; a median value of 101.8 μιηοΐ/ΐ (Ρ (5%) 79.6 μιηοΐ/l, Ρ (95%) 139.7 μηηοΐ/ΐ) was calculated, which is higher than that in humans. Serum urea tests (n = 1831) in the same 52 chimpanzees resulted in a median value of 2.01 mmol/1 (P(5%) 0.86 mmol/1, Ρ (95%) 4.78 mmol/1). The calculated median creatinine clearance value of 23.9 ml/min (P (5%) 4.4 ml/min, P (95%) 65.3 ml/min) is lower in chimpanzees than in man. A correction of the creatinine clearance values to the body surface area of 1.73m 2 , as routinely performed in humans, gave unusually high results, as there was no proper equation to calculate the surface area of chimpanzees. The use of estimation equations for creatinine clearance values of chimpanzees as developed for humans is therefore not recommended.

A longitudinal study of urinary dipstick parameters in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Côte d'Ivoire

“…The range of levels varied a lot within a given month, especially in January, where the range was from 1.001 to 1.049. The infants had lower urinary SG than all the other age groups, which has also been observed for chimpanzees in captivity [Eder, 1996]. This is likely owing to their kidneys' relatively lower ability to concentrate urine, which is also seen in human infants and children [Polacek et al, 1965], as well as the relatively higher fluid content of their diet when breast feeding.…”

Characterization of blood biochemical markers during aging in the Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus): impact of gender and season

“…Such markers have also been used to quantify and to compare blood acid–base disturbances associated with capture and to investigate how interspecific differences in the physiological stress response could be related to life history ecology and phylogeny [7]. Likewise, comparisons of blood biochemistry levels between species could be useful to prevent diseases or pre-disease states, such as kidney dysfunction in chimpanzees and humans [8] or rhabdomyolysis in marine mammals [6]. Finally, blood chemistry profiles are used as biomarkers for disease evolution, including atherosclerosis in rabbits [9] or organohalogen contamination in raptor nestlings [10].…”

Calcium salt crystalluria in a captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) population

“…22 However, it should be noted that Eder reported a higher mean specific gravity of 1.013 in his study on captive chimpanzee renal function despite continuous availability of water and juices. 37 This study revealed that chimpanzees with calcium salt crystalluria had a higher urinary specific gravity than those lacking crystalluria. This is not surprising, as higher concentrations of urinary calcium and oxalate correspond to both a higher specific gravity and a higher risk of calcium salt crystalluria formation.…”

“…High fluid consumption in humans is also strongly correlated with a reduced risk of nephrolith and urolith formation 22 . However, it should be noted that Eder reported a higher mean specific gravity of 1.013 in his study on captive chimpanzee renal function despite continuous availability of water and juices 37 …”