Endocrine Profile of Pregnancy in the Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas)

Abstract

Spontaneous toxemia occurs in approximately 6% of pregnancies in patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas). To assess further the relevance of this animal as a model system for toxemia of pregnancy in humans, we characterized the endocrine profile of the patas pregnancy by analyzing weekly blood samples for estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, aldosterone, and PRA throughout gestation. The profiles obtained bear striking resemblance to those described for human pregnancy, an unexpected finding since the patas monkey is not a higher hominoid. We conclude that the patas monkey may provide a model of toxemia relevant to study of the human disorder and is superior to other animal models which require surgical manipulation and are characterized by secondary hyperreninemia.