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Higher offspring mortality with short interbirth intervals in free-ranging rhesus macaques. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:6057-6062. [PMID: 30877247 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1817148116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Short birth intervals have long been linked to adverse child outcomes in humans. However, it remains unclear the extent to which the birth interval has a direct influence on offspring mortality, independent of the confounding effects of modern environments and human sociocultural practices on reproductive behavior. Outside of humans, the relationship between birth intervals and offspring mortality has been rarely tested, leaving an open question of how much the findings from humans imply evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Here, using ∼9,000 birth records from ∼1,400 free-ranging rhesus macaque mothers, we show that short birth intervals preceding or succeeding the birth of an offspring are both associated with higher offspring mortality, after controlling for heterogeneity across mothers and birth cohorts. We clarify that the mortality risk of a short birth interval to an offspring is contingent on the survival of its older or younger sibling, the condition that reduces maternal resources for investment in the offspring. This finding suggests that life-history tradeoffs between offspring quantity (a short birth interval) and quality (offspring survival) form an evolutionary force shaping variation in birth intervals. Consistent with the well-known observation made in humans, we also found a nonlinear relationship between the preceding interbirth interval and infant mortality. The overall congruence with the findings from the human literature indicates a robust relationship between birth intervals and offspring mortality.
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Phillips KA, Bales KL, Capitanio JP, Conley A, Czoty PW, ‘t Hart BA, Hopkins WD, Hu SL, Miller LA, Nader MA, Nathanielsz PW, Rogers J, Shively CA, Voytko ML. Why primate models matter. Am J Primatol 2014; 76:801-27. [PMID: 24723482 PMCID: PMC4145602 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 391] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 03/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Research involving nonhuman primates (NHPs) has played a vital role in many of the medical and scientific advances of the past century. NHPs are used because of their similarity to humans in physiology, neuroanatomy, reproduction, development, cognition, and social complexity-yet it is these very similarities that make the use of NHPs in biomedical research a considered decision. As primate researchers, we feel an obligation and responsibility to present the facts concerning why primates are used in various areas of biomedical research. Recent decisions in the United States, including the phasing out of chimpanzees in research by the National Institutes of Health and the pending closure of the New England Primate Research Center, illustrate to us the critical importance of conveying why continued research with primates is needed. Here, we review key areas in biomedicine where primate models have been, and continue to be, essential for advancing fundamental knowledge in biomedical and biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley A. Phillips
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio TX 78212
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio TX
| | - Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis CA 95616
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis CA 95616
| | - John P. Capitanio
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis CA 95616
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis CA 95616
| | - Alan Conley
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis CA 95616
| | - Paul W. Czoty
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
| | - Bert A. ‘t Hart
- Department of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswick, The Netherlands
| | - William D. Hopkins
- Neuroscience Institute and Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta GA 30302
- Division of Cognitive and Developmental Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta GA 30030
| | - Shiu-Lok Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Lisa A. Miller
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis CA 95616
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, University of California, Davis CA 95616
| | - Michael A. Nader
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
| | - Peter W. Nathanielsz
- Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio TX 78229
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI
| | - Carol A. Shively
- Department of Pathology, Section on Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
| | - Mary Lou Voytko
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
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