Use of primates in research: A global overview

Abstract

We assessed the use of nonhuman primates and nonhuman primate biological material in research by reviewing studies published in 2001 in peer-reviewed journals. The number and species of primates used, the origin of the animals, the type of study, the area of research of the investigation, and the location at which the research was performed were tabulated. Additionally, factors related to the animals that may have affected the outcome of the experiments were recorded. A total of 2,937 articles involving 4,411 studies that employed nonhuman primates or nonhuman primate biological material were identified and analyzed. More than 41,000 animals were represented in the studies published in 2001. In the 14% of studies for which re-use could be determined, 69% involved animals that had been used in previous experiments. Published studies most commonly used nonhuman primates or nonhuman primate biological material from the species Chlorocebus aethiops (19%), Macaca mulatta (18%), M. fascicularis (9%), and Papio spp. (6%). Of these studies, 54% were classified as in vitro studies, 14% as noninvasive, 30% as chronic, and 1% were considered acute. Nonhuman primates were primarily used in research areas in which they appear to be the most appropriate models for humans. The most common areas of research were microbiology (including HIV/AIDS (26%)), neuroscience (19%), and biochemistry/chemistry (12%). Most (84%) of the primate research published in 2001 was conducted in North America, Europe, and Japan. The animals and conditions under which they were housed and used were rarely described. Although it is estimated that nonhuman primates account for an extremely small fraction of all animals used in research, their special status makes it important to report the many husbandry and environmental factors that influence the research results generated. This analysis has identified that editors rarely require authors to provide comprehensive information concerning the subjects (e.g., their origin), treatment conditions, and experimental procedures utilized in the studies they publish. The present analysis addresses the use of primates for research, including the effects of a shortage of suitable nonhuman primate subjects in many research areas.

Physiological and Molecular Determinants of Insulin Action in the Baboon

“…This taxonomic group includes vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops), rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), and baboons (Papio hamadryas) (6). Despite the relevance of primate study to human disease research, there has been a shortage of primates available for biomedical research (7). Baboons and humans share great genetic similarity, with ϳ96% homology evident at the DNA level (8).…”

Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Both the increasing public criticism and pressure against research involving animals, especially on studies involving non-human primates [12], and the inclusion of the 3R principles in recent regulatory guidance updates, call for attempts to reduce the number of animals used for nonclinical toxicology studies. Recent efforts have been focused on the critical analysis and subsequent optimization of non-human primate study designs because the demand for toxicity testing in nonhuman primates, mostly in Cynomologus monkeys, is increasing due to the heavily growing share of large molecule drugs in the biopharmaceutical industry pipeline.…”

Protocol for collection and separation of bone marrow mononuclear cells in Chlorocebus aethiops

“…The continuous increase of its use is due to the fact that the alternative species to the use of Rhesus monkeys, being of management relatively easy and high prolificacy in captivity (Freimer et al 2007). Carlsson et al (2004), carried out a survey of the use of non-human primates in biomedical research, and only in 2001, it was observed that the species was the most used one in published researches of the whole world, mainly in the areas of microbiology and biochemistry, with emphasis on research using the cultivation of cells.…”