Dataset Information

Ontogeny of joint mechanics in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis): functional implications for mammalian limb growth and locomotor development.

ABSTRACT: Juvenile animals must often compete against adults for common resources, keep pace during group travel and evade common predators, despite reduced body size and an immature musculoskeletal system. Previous morphometric studies of a diverse array of mammals, including jack rabbits, cats and capuchin monkeys, have identified growth-related changes in anatomy, such as negative allometry of limb muscle mechanical advantage, which should theoretically permit young mammals to overcome such ontogenetic limits on performance. However, it is important to evaluate the potential impact of such ;compensatory' growth trajectories within the context of developmental changes in locomotor behavior. I used standard kinematic and kinetic techniques to investigate the ontogenetic scaling of joint postures, substrate reaction forces, joint load arm lengths and external joint moments in an ontogenetic sample of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis). Results indicated that young squirrel monkeys were frequently able to limit forelimb and hind limb joint loading via a combination of changes in limb posture and limb force distribution, potentially compensating for limited muscularity at younger ages. These results complement previous morphometric studies and suggest that immature mammals may utilize a combination of behavioral and anatomical mechanisms to mitigate ontogenetic limits on locomotor performance. However, ontogenetic changes in joint posture, not limb length per se, explained most of the variation in load arm lengths and joint loading in growing squirrel monkeys, indicating the importance of incorporating both anatomical and performance measures when studying the ontogeny of limb joint mechanics.

SUBMITTER: Young JW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2777092 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundEchocardiography is the most frequently used non -invasive diagnostic tool to evaluate cardiac anatomy and function in domestic species but increasingly also in non -domestic species, especially since cardiac disease is being recognized as an important cause of death in captive primates. The purpose of this cross -sectional study was to investigate the feasibility of transthoracic echocardiography in healthy squirrel monkeys as well as to provide species specific normal values for standard echocardiographic measurements. A secondary aim was to determine plasma and serum levels of the cardiac biomarkers, N -terminal pro -brain natriuretic peptide (NT -proBNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT). Furthermore, a commercial, non -invasive, smartphone -based ECG (AliveCor Vet TM) monitoring device was used to evaluate the heart rate and rhythm and to diagnose possible arrhythmias.ResultsIn this study, transthoracic echocardiography of 14 squirrel monkeys was performed in right and left lateral recumbency. Similar standard right parasternal and left apical images were obtained as in dogs and cats and normal values for routine two -dimensional, time motion mode and Doppler mode measurements were generated. Thirteen animals were considered healthy and one squirrel monkey was identified with significant aortic dilation and regurgitation and consequently values obtained from this animal were not used when species specific normal values were calculated. NT -ProBNP and cTnT concentrations were available for 7 of the 13 healthy monkeys with NT -proBNP concentrations below detection limit in all animals and a mean cTnT concentration of 0.049 ng/mL. Electrocardiography was performed in all squirrel monkeys. The mean heart rate was 172 bpm. Frequent supraventricular premature beats were diagnosed in the squirrel monkey suffering from significant aortic dilation and regurgitation.ConclusionThis study presents echocardiographic normal values and additional cardiovascular data in anaesthetised Saimiri monkeys, fundamental from both the perspective of zoo animal health care as well as scientific research, since the squirrel monkey is often used as an animal model for human disease.

Dataset Information

Ontogeny of joint mechanics in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis): functional implications for mammalian limb growth and locomotor development.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets