Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:36:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AdrianoCL.pdf: 471335 bytes, checksum: 56ca8b5db29eb13c8ee17c7dee626744 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-09-24 / The use of non-human primates in scientific research has contributed significantly to the biomedical area and, in the case of Callithrix jacchus, has provided important evidence on physiological mechanisms that help explain its biology, making the species a valuable experimental model in different pathologies. However, raising non-human primates in captivity for long periods of time is accompanied by behavioral disorders and chronic diseases, as well as progressive weight loss in most of the animals. The Primatology Center of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) has housed a colony of C. jacchus for nearly 30 years and during this period these animals have been weighed systematically to detect possible alterations in their clinical conditions. This procedure has generated a volume of data on the weight of animals at different age ranges. These data are of great importance in the study of this variable from different perspectives. Accordingly, this paper presents three studies using weight data collected over 15 years (1985-2000) as a way of verifying the health status and development of the animals. The first study produced the first article, which describes the histopathological findings of animals with probable diagnosis of permanent wasting marmoset syndrome (WMS). All the animals were carriers of trematode parasites (Platynosomum spp) and had obstruction in the hepatobiliary system; it is suggested that this agent is one of the etiological factors of the syndrome. In the second article, the analysis focused on comparing environmental profile and cortisol levels between the animals with normal weight curve evolution and those with WMS. We observed a marked decrease in locomotion, increased use of lower cage extracts and hypocortisolemia. The latter is likely associated to an adaptation of the mechanisms that make up the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis, as observed in other mammals under conditions of chronic malnutrition. Finally, in the third study, the animals with weight alterations were excluded from the sample and, using computational tools (K-means and SOM) in a non-supervised way, we suggest found new ontogenetic development classes for C. jacchus. These were redimensioned from five to eight classes: infant I, infant II, infant III, juvenile I, juvenile II, sub-adult, young adult and elderly adult, in order to provide a more suitable classification for more detailed studies that require better control over the animal development / O uso de primatas n?o humanos na pesquisa cient?fica trouxe grandes contribui??es ? ?rea biom?dica e, no caso de Callithrix jacchus, evid?ncias importantes sobre mecanismos fisiol?gicos para compreens?o de sua biologia bem como para a sua proposi??o como modelo experimental em diferentes patologias. Entretanto, a cria??o de primatas n?o humanos em cativeiro por longos per?odos de tempo ? acompanhada de transtornos comportamentais e doen?as cr?nicas, a maioria delas apresentando como sinal prim?rio a perda progressiva de peso. O N?cleo de Primatologia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) possui uma col?nia de cria??o de C. jacchus h? cerca de 30 anos e durante este per?odo seus animais foram pesados sistematicamente como forma de detectar poss?veis altera??es nas suas condi??es cl?nicas. Este procedimento gerou uma massa de dados sobre o peso dos animais em diferentes faixas et?rias de grande relev?ncia para o estudo desta vari?vel em diferentes perspectivas. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho apresenta tr?s estudos usando os dados da vari?vel peso coletados durante 15 anos (1985-2000) como forma de aferir o estado de sa?de e do desenvolvimento dos animais. O primeiro estudo gerou o primeiro artigo, o qual descreve os achados histopatol?gicos de animais com diagn?stico prov?vel da S?ndrome de Emagrecimento Progressivo (SEP), tendo sido encontrado que todos eles eram portadores de um tremat?deo (Platynosomum spp) associado a um quadro de obstru??o no sistema hepatobiliar, para o qual se prop?s este agente como um dos fatores etiol?gicos da s?ndrome. No segundo artigo a an?lise foi direcionada ? compara??o do perfil comportamental e do n?veis de cortisol entre animais com a evolu??o da curva de peso dentro dos par?metros de normalidade e ?queles com SEP. Ficou evidenciada a diminui??o na locomo??o, uso aumentado dos extratos inferiores da gaiola e hipocortisolemia, esta ?ltima provavelmente associada a uma adapta??o dos mecanismos que comp?em o eixo funcional hipot?lamo-hip?fise-adrenal,, como observado para outros mam?feros sob situa??es de desnutri??o cr?nica. Finalmente, no terceiro estudo, os animais com altera??es de peso foram exclu?dos da amostra e, com o emprego de ferramentas computacionais (K-m?dias e SOM Self-Organizing Maps) de maneira n?o supervisionada, e foram evidenciadas novas classes no desenvolvimento ontogen?tico de C. jacchus. Assim sugerimos ser redimensionada de cinco para oito novas classes: infantil I, infantil II, infantil III, juvenil I, juvenil II, sub-adulto, adulto jovem e adulto idoso, fornecendo uma classifica??o mais apropriada para estudos mais detalhados que requeiram maior controle do desenvolvimento do animal

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-02-13T19:54:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DanielSilvaPolari_DISSERT.pdf: 1547318 bytes, checksum: 92ebdd280f0c098be7201ceab8cc41b4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-02-14T21:42:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DanielSilvaPolari_DISSERT.pdf: 1547318 bytes, checksum: 92ebdd280f0c098be7201ceab8cc41b4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-14T21:42:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DanielSilvaPolari_DISSERT.pdf: 1547318 bytes, checksum: 92ebdd280f0c098be7201ceab8cc41b4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-04 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / Consci?ncia como fen?meno biol?gico pode consistir de diferentes estados sensoriais, sentimentos e emo??es. Comportamentos especializado, a??es sofisticadas de comunica??o, meta-cogni??o, intera??o social, orienta??o especial, use de mapas mentais para navega??o e mem?ria espaciais, apontam para tipos diferentes de processamentos consciente em g?neros que n?o o Homo. O presente trabalho busca identificar a auto-percep??o em diferentes esp?cies, com testes do espelho em Callithrix jacchus e com testes de auto-localiza??o em Dinoponera quadriceps. O comportamento de C. jacchus no espelho foi catalogado utilizando dois protocolos diferentes: com marca e sem marca. A capacidade de navega??o de D. quadriceps durante o forrageio, foi calculada considerando tr?s diferentes categorias: (1) acesso livre ao ninho/recurso, (2) acesso direto bloqueado por objeto opaco; e 3) bloqueado por objeto transparente. Nossos resultados apontam para auto-percep??o e mambas as esp?cies, com C. jacchus apresentando comportamentos de verifica??o de conting?ncia, auto-observa??o, al?m de utilizar a imagem refletida para observar o ambiente e reagir a marca. D. quadriceps foram capazes de perceber sua pr?pria localiza??o no ambiente e calcular caminhos curtos at? a col?nia ap?s obter o recurso alimentar, em todos os tr?s tipos de testes. Aqui n?s apresentamos evid?ncia de estados conscientes em outras esp?cies que n?o vertebrados. / Consciousness, as a biological phenomenon, may consists of states of feeling, sensation or awareness. Specialized behaviour, sophisticated actions of communication, metacognition, social interaction, spatial orientation, the use of mental maps for navigation, and spatial memory, all point to conscious processing in genus other than Homo. This work aims to identify self-awareness states in two different species: using mirror self-recognition tests in Callithrix jacchus, and using self-perception tests in Dinoponera quadriceps. Displays of C. jacchus self-recognition using a mirror, were appraised with two protocols: no mark and with mark. D.quadriceps navigational capability displays during foraging trips to food resource, were appraised considering three different tests categories: (1) free access, (2) blocked by opaque object; and 3) blocked by clear object. Our results show self-perception in both studied species. With marmosets displaying contingency check behaviour to the specular image, self-observation, environmental exploration using the mirror as a tool and little, but significant mark reactions. Tocandiras were able to perceive its own location and to calculate short return paths to the colony after obtaining the food resource in all three types of tests. Here we provide further evidence of conscious states for species other than vertebrates.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Mammals play a fundamental part in the maintenance of the environment in which they live in, their many ecological interactions act as important regulators of diversity in Tropical Forests. An “ecologically fit” mammal community preserves a higher number of essential ecological relationships that sustain the biodiversity. In this sense, mammal population studies, such as density and its relations to habitat structure, might indicate the conservation status of a community in an area, allowing the formulation of improved conservation strategies. Mammal densities are influenced by a series of factors: (1) intrinsic, such as biomass and niche requirements; (2) ecological relations, as competitive exclusion; and, (3) of habitat, such as structure and quality. The present study aimed to estimate the large and medium-sized mammal densities in an Atlantic Forest remnant, and verify possible habitat preferences. The study area, Fazenda Rio Fundo (FRF), is an 800ha arboreal Restinga fragment, with a great variety of habitats. Between june 2015 and march 2016, 401 km were walked in four transects for the census method. For the habitat structure measure, eleven sample squares (20 x 5 m) were stablished, and DBH, canopy height and canopy openness values were registered. The floristic composition varied among the phytophysiognomies, and significant diferences of canopy height (p=0,000002) and canopy openness (p=0,03) were found between the habitats – Grota, Rebrota and Tabuleiro. We registered 96 visualisations of eight species during censos work. The species with more number of sightings were Dasyprocta sp. (n = 29; 13,07 ind./km²), Callicebus coimbrai (n = 27; 12,76 ind./km²), Callithrix jacchus (n = 21; 29,95 ind./km²) and Sapajus xanthosternos (n = 11; 4,39 ind./km²). The other four species sighted during census, had a low number of total visualisations (n ≤ 4) so were excluded from the density analysis. We indentified a preference for the Mature Forest habitat (Grota), for all analysed mammal except Dasyprocta sp. Density diferences seems to be related to habitat structure and floristic caracteristics, resource availability and the niche requirements of each species. / Mamíferos possuem papel fundamental na manutenção do meio em que vivem. Suas diversas interações ecológicas atuam como importantes reguladoras da diversidade das florestas tropicais. Uma comunidade de mamíferos “ecologicamente saudável” preserva um maior número de relações ecológicas, essenciais para a manutenção da biodiversidade. Neste sentido, estudos com parâmetros populacionais das espécies de mamíferos, como a densidade e suas relações com a estrutura do habitat, podem indicar o status de preservação da comunidade em uma determinada área, possibilitando a formulação de melhores estratégias para a conservação. As densidades de mamíferos são influenciadas por: (1) fatores intrínsecos, como biomassa e requerimentos de nicho; (2) relações ecológicas, como exclusão competitiva e predação; e (3) características do habitat, como estrutura e qualidade. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estimar a densidade de mamíferos de um fragmento de Mata Atlântica de Sergipe, e verificar suas relações com a estrutura do habitat. A área de estudo, a Fazenda Rio Fundo (FRF), é um fragmento de aproximadamente 800 ha de Restinga Arbórea, compreendendo uma grande variedade de habitats. Entre junho de 2015 e março de 2016, foram percorridos 401 km nos quatro transectos definidos, para amostragem de densidade de mamíferos arborícolas e de médio porte através do método de Transecção Linear e analisadas no software Distance. Para medir a diversidade vegetal e estrutura do habitat foram amostradas 11 parcelas (20 x 5 m), e registrados o CAP, altura de dossel e porcentagem de abertura de dossel. A composição florística variou entre as fitofisionomias, e diferenças significativas na altura de dossel (p=0,000002) e na abertura de dossel (p=0,03) entre os habitats – Grota, Rebrota e Tabuleiro. Foram registradas 96 visualizações de oito espécies de mamíferos, durante o censo. As espécies com maior número de registros foram Dasyprocta sp. (n = 29; 13,07 ind./km²), Callicebus coimbrai (n = 27; 12,76 ind./km²), Callithrix jacchus (n = 21; 29,95 ind./km²) e Sapajus xanthosternos (n = 11; 4,39 ind./km²). As outras quatro espécies observadas no censo tiveram um número de registro muito baixo (n ≤ 4) e não foram incluídas nas análises de densidade. Foi identificada uma preferência pelo habitat de Floresta Madura (Grota) para os mamíferos avaliados, com exceção de Dasyprocta sp. As diferenças nas densidades parecem estar atreladas a características estruturais, florísticas, de disponibilidade de recurso e dos requerimentos de cada espécie.

No / Spermatogenesis is characterized by the succession in time and space of specific germ cell associations (stages). There can be a single stage (e.g., rodents and some macaques) or more than one stage (e.g., chimpanzee and human) per tubular cross section. We analyzed the organization of the seminiferous epithelium and quantified testicular germ cell production and apoptosis in a New World primate, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Tubule cross sections contained more than one stage, and the human six-stage system could be applied to marmoset spermatogenesis. Stereological (optical disector) analysis (n = 5) revealed high spermatogenic efficiency during meiosis and no loss of spermatids during spermiogenesis. The conversion of type A to type B spermatogonia was several-fold higher than that reported for other primates. Highest apoptotic rates were found for S-phase cells (20%) and 4C cells (15%) by flow cytometric analysis (n = 6 animals); histological analysis confirmed spermatogonial apoptosis. Haploid germ cell apoptosis was <2%. Marmoset spermatogenesis is very efficient and involves substantial spermatogonial proliferation. The prime determinants of germ cell production in primates appear to be proliferation and survival of spermatogonia rather than the efficiency of meiotic divisions. Based on the organizational similarities, common marmosets could provide a new animal model for experimental studies of human spermatogenesis.

Adipositas ist eine polymorphe chronische Erkrankung mit epidemischer Prävalenz. Im katabolen Leptin-Melanocortin-Signalweg ist das Proopiomelanocortin Gen (POMC) ein zentrales Element, das bei Dysfunktion massive Adipositas bewirken kann. Auch eine kürzlich identifizierte intragenische Methylierungsvariante des POMC wurde mit Adipositas assoziiert und deutet somit auf eine mögliche epigenetische Modulation des Gewichtsphänotyps hin. Zur Aufklärung der Relevanz, Stabilität und Entwicklung dieser epigenetischen Modifikation wurden die Funktionalität, Ontogenese und Phylogenese der POMC DNA-Methylierung untersucht. In vitro Analysen zeigten DNA-Methylierungsabhängige Promoteraktivität beider CpG-Inseln (CGIs) des POMC. Diese hier erstmals beschriebene Transkriptionsaktivität der intragenischen CGI weist auf einen alternativen Promoter des POMC hin. Hinsichtlich der Ontogenese konnten in Mensch und Maus postnatal stabile DNA-Methylierungsmuster mit interindividueller Konservierung für beide CGIs des POMC identifiziert werden. Zusätzlich erwiesen sich Gewebeunabhängigkeit der DNA-Methylierungsmuster und ihre pränatale Ausbildung zwischen dem Blastocystenstadium und der frühen Organogenese in der Maus. Die POMC DNA-Methylierungsmuster upstream des Exon3 unterscheiden sich in Mensch und Maus. Der mögliche Einfluss von primatenspezifischen Alu-Elementen im Intron2 des POMC hierauf wurde in verschiedenen Primatenfamilien analysiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine bedingte Assoziation der Alu-Elemente mit der DNA-Methylierung in der entsprechenden Region, lassen jedoch auch weitere Einflussfaktoren vermuten. Insgesamt zeigt diese Arbeit, dass die POMC DNA-Methylierung artspezifisch konserviert ist und in der frühen Embryogenese, vermutlich Alu-abhängig, ausgebildet wird. Dabei könnten stochastische Variationen der DNA-Methylierung die POMC-Aktivität beeinflussen und somit das Risiko für Adipositas erhöhen. / Obesity is a polymorphic chronic disease with epidemic prevalence. Within the catabolic leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway pre-proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is a pivotal element. Dysfunction of POMC, e.g. due to mutations, can cause severe obesity. Moreover, a recently identified intragenic methylation variant of POMC was found to be associated with obesity. Therefore, this indicates potential epigenetic modulation of the weight phenotype. To gain further insight into the relevance, stability, and origin of this epigenetic modification, the functionality, ontogenesis, and phylogenesis of the POMC DNA methylation patterns were analyzed. In vitro analyses revealed DNA methylation-dependent promoter activity of both CpG islands (CGIs) of POMC. Thereby, the intragenic CGI was identified as a potential alternative promoter of POMC, which has not been described before. Regarding the ontogenesis, postnatally stable POMC DNA methylation patterns with interindividual conservation were detected for both CGIs in humans and mice. In addition, it was observed that the POMC DNA methylation patterns are non-tissue-specific, stable upon long time administration of a high fat diet, and develop prenatally between the blastocystal stage and the early organogenesis. The POMC DNA methylation pattern upstream of exon3 differs in humans and mice. A possible influence of primate-specific Alu elements within the intron2 region of POMC was analyzed in various primate families. Results evince a partial association of the Alu elements with the DNA methylation pattern in this particular region, but also suggest an influence of additional factors. Overall, this work demonstrates that DNA methylation of the POMC locus is species-specific highly conserved, and that it is established during early embryogenesis, possibly Alu-triggered. In the course of this, stochastic variances of the POMC DNA methylation might influence the POMC activity and consequently alter the risk to develop obesity.

No description available.

There are numerous guidelines recommending that captive primates live in complex environments in which they have the opportunity to make choices and the ability to control aspects of the environment, despite the lack of quantitative evidence to suggest these qualities improve welfare. Complexity, choice and control (the ‘Three Cs’) are inter-related and therefore it is complicated to separate their effects. The main aim of this thesis was to examine how the ‘Three Cs’ affect welfare, using the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) as a model. Behavioural measures and preference tests were used to determine the impact and significance of the ‘Three Cs’ on welfare. Experimental manipulations were natural (i.e. access to outside runs), or unnatural (e.g. pressing a button to control additional illumination). In a series of different studies, marmosets were moved to larger and more complex enclosures, were allowed to choose between indoor cages and outdoor complex enclosures and were able to control additional white light or coloured lights in their home enclosures. The results of these studies show that appropriate levels of each of the ‘Three Cs’ had a positive influence on the welfare of the marmosets, especially on youngsters. Although having control over light, and increased illumination itself improved welfare, providing a choice of access to outside runs (which were more complex and allowed the marmosets greater control over their activities) resulted in the greatest welfare improvement for marmosets of all ages. Loss of access, or control, did not appear to have a negative impact. The marmosets were housed in pairs or in family groups, in the different studies. A cross-study comparison shows that the composition of the groups affected the behavioural response of adult marmosets to environmental enrichment. Unexpectedly, it was also found that, when housed in standard laboratory conditions, adult marmosets were more relaxed when housed in pairs than when housed with their offspring. A secondary aim of the thesis was to quantify welfare indicators and activity budgets of common marmosets in a range of different social and physical contexts, and to compare this with the behaviour of wild marmosets, to increase our understanding of what is “normal” in captive situations. It is concluded that it is critical to sub-divide locomotion and inactivity into different levels to interpret these measures accurately. Levels of calm locomotion increased in enriched environments, while levels of relaxed inactivity and scent marking decreased. A number of recommendations for the care and housing of marmosets are made.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:36:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PaulaRMB.pdf: 735531 bytes, checksum: 6f97353cd0f92f620d3561920b75a484 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-06-05 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / &#65279;Most of ontogenetic studies on circadian timing system have been developed on infants, adults and elderly. The puberty has not been a stage of life few studied, except for researches in human adolescents, that presents phase delay in sleep-wake cycle. However, few studies have focused on the basis of this circadian change due to methodological difficulties. Thus, an animal model to study the sleep-wake cycle at puberty is essential. In the common marmoset, a social primate, the circadian activity periodicity stabilizes around 4 months (juvenile stage) and the 8h period component has a seasonal variation. Puberty stage of this species begins near the 8th month of age in males and near the 7th month in females with 7 months of duration. With the aim to characterize the circadian motor activity rhythm during puberty in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) the motor activity was continuous registered by actiwatches in 6 animals between 5-12 months. Since the social factor influence the behavior of this specie, behavioral observations were realized in 30 minutes windows twice/week to a general evaluation of the influence social interactions dynamic across experiment. Determination of puberty onset was done by fecal progesterone and estrogens in females, and androgens in males. From the analysis of the multiple regression test was selected a model that evaluate age and seasonal variables effect on the activity rhythm according to the higher explanation coefficient. The total activity was the only parameter influenced by age. Moreover, the activity onset was the parameter more explained by the model, and the sunrise was the factor that most influenced it. After the puberty onset, 2 dyads advanced the activity onset. The activity total decreased in 1 dyad and increased in 2 dyads. This increase may be related to the birth of infants in these families. The motor activity circadian component stabilized later in 1 dyad, coinciding with the puberty onset of these animals, while bimodality, caused by the 8 h component, was modulated by seasonality. The agonistic behavior was not evaluated due to reduced number of events. There were changes across ages in affiliative behavior of contact in 1 dyad, grooming done in 1 animal and grooming received in 2 animals. Although there is evidence of puberty effect on the activity motor rhythm, the photoperiodic fluctuations influenced the rhythm. Therefore is not possible to affirm if the puberty modulate the activity rhythm in marmosets / &#65279;A maioria dos estudos sobre o sistema de temporiza??o circadiana s?o desenvolvidos em animais adultos, infantes e idosos. A puberdade se tornou uma fase da vida pouco estudada, com exce??o dos trabalhos realizados em adolescentes humanos, que apresentam um atraso de fase no ciclo sono e vig?lia. No entanto, poucos estudos enfocam a base circadiana envolvida nesta mudan?a devido ?s dificuldades metodol?gicas. Dessa forma, um modelo animal para o estudo do ciclo sono e vig?lia na puberdade ? essencial. Em sag?is (Callithrix jacchus), um primata social, a periodicidade circadiana estabiliza em torno dos 4 meses (est?gio juvenil) e o componente ultradiano de 8 horas apresenta varia??o sazonal. A puberdade come?a pr?ximo dos 8 meses nos machos e dos 7 meses nas f?meas, com dura??o de aproximadamente 7 meses. Com o objetivo de caracterizar o ritmo de atividade motora em sag?is na puberdade foi registrada continuamente a atividade motora por act?metros em 6 animais dos 5 a 12 meses de idade. Como os fatores sociais podem influenciar os comportamentos desta esp?cie foram realizadas observa??es comportamentais em janelas de 30 minutos duas vezes/semana para uma avalia??o geral da influencia das intera??es sociais ao longo do experimento. A entrada na puberdade foi determinada a partir dos n?veis fecais de progesterona e estr?genos nas f?meas, e andr?genos nos machos. A partir da an?lise do teste de regress?o m?ltipla foi selecionado um modelo que avaliava o efeito da idade e de vari?veis sazonais sobre os par?metros do ritmo de acordo com o maior coeficiente de explica??o. O total da atividade foi o ?nico par?metro influenciado pela idade. Por outro lado, o in?cio da atividade foi o par?metro mais explicado pelo modelo, sendo o nascer do sol o fator que mais o influencia. Ap?s a entrada na puberdade, 2 d?ades iniciaram a atividade mais cedo. Em rela??o ao total da atividade, houve redu??o em 1 d?ade e aumento em 2 d?ades. Este aumento pode estar relacionado com o nascimento de filhotes nessas fam?lias. O componente circadiano da atividade motora estabilizou mais tarde em 1 d?ade, coincidindo com a entrada na puberdade desses animais. Enquanto que a bimodalidade, decorrente do componente ultradiano de 8 horas, sofreu uma modula??o sazonal. Os comportamentos agon?sticos n?o foram analisados em decorr?ncia do n?mero reduzido de eventos. Os comportamentos afiliativos de contato em 1 d?ade, de cata??o realizada em 1 animal e de cata??o recebida em 2 animais modificaram entre as idades. Embora existam evid?ncias do efeito da puberdade sobre o ritmo de atividade motora, as flutua??es fotoperi?dicas influenciaram o ritmo. Portanto, n?o ? poss?vel afirmar se a puberdade modula o ritmo de atividade motora em sag?is

No description available.

No description available.