Rhesus macaque fetal and placental growth demographics: A resource for laboratory animal researchers.

Roberts, Victoria H. J.; Castro, Jenna N.; Wessel, Brady M.; Conrad, Donald F.; Lewis, Anne D.; Lo, Jamie O.

Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are amongst the most common nonhuman primate species used in biomedical research. These animals provide a precious resource for translational studies and opportunities to maximize rhesus data use are encouraged. Here we compile data produced from 10 years of investigator‐driven pregnancy studies conducted at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC). All pregnancies were generated within the consistent and reproducible protocols of the ONPRC time‐mated breeding program. The data included are from control animals who did not experience in utero perturbations or experimental manipulations. A total of 86 pregnant rhesus macaques were delivered by cesarean section over a range of gestational days (G) 50 to G159 (where term is G165 ± 10 days in the rhesus macaque), with subsequent immediate tissue harvesting following standardized protocols. Fetal and placental growth measures, and all major organ weights are reported. All data are presented relative to gestational age for the entire cohort and in addition, data are stratified by fetal sex. The outcome is a large reference resource for use by laboratory animal researchers in future comparative fetal development studies. Research Highlights: Generation of a rhesus macaque reference data set for placental and fetal growth measurements as a resource for laboratory animal researchers.Developmental biometric measurements from pregnancies generated as part of the time‐mated breeding program at the Oregon National Primate Research Center.Stratification of cross‐sectional first, second, and third trimester growth data by fetal sex.

RHESUS monkeys; FETAL development; MACAQUES; LABORATORY animals; REFERENCE sources; GESTATIONAL age

American Journal of Primatology, 2023, Vol 85, Issue 8, p1

0275-2565

Academic Journal

10.1002/ajp.23526