Student Prize Award Abstract
1995 Poster Paper Award
CARDIOVASCULAR AND NEUROENDOCRINE RESPONSES TO CHASES AND FOOD ANTICIPATION IN BABOONS: A STUDY INVOLVING TELEMETRY AND REMOTE CONTROL BLOOD DRAWS
K.L. Bentson1, C.A. Astley1, F.P. Miles1, D.S. Goldstein2, C. Holmes2, and O.A. Smith1
1Regional Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, and 2National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
A catheter was implanted in an adult male baboon's aorta and attached to a device contained in a backpack worn by the baboon (Papio cynocephalus). Equipment in the pack allowed blood pressure and heart rate to be telemetered while the he baboon interacted with other animals and his environment. The device allowed 3 blood samples to be collected by remote control at times chosen by the investigator. Epinephrine and norepinephrine were assayed from blood collected while the baboon sat quietly, at several different time points during anticipation and delivery of fruit, and during chases. Chases produced ~ a ten-fold increase in plasma catecholamine levels. While the baboon was anticipating fruit delivery, epinephrine levels rose rapidly to more than twice the baseline, began to decline shortly after the food was delivered, and approached the baseline level within 6 minutes of the time anticipation began. Norepinephrine levels rose gradually before food delivery, continued to increase to almost 3 times baseline after delivery, and remained high while the baboon retrieved and ate the fruit. The results demonstrate the remarkably large and rapid changes in sympathoneural and adrenomedullary activities during food anticipation and chases in the conscious, unrestrained baboon. This research was supported by NIH grants HL50351 and RR00166.