Abstract
Previous research has shown that offspring of females with low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations are less likely to survive the first year of life than are offspring of females with high CSF 5-HIAA concentrations. In addition, studies of free-ranging rhesus macaque males have suggested that individuals with low CSF 5-HIAA concentrations suffer reduced reproductive success relative to their high serotonin counterparts. We examined CSF concentrations of the monoamine metabolites 5-HIAA and homovanillic acid (HVA), and plasma cortisol concentrations as predictors of first-time adult reproductive potential, maternal behavior, and overall social interactions in two groups of captive female rhesus macaques and their first offspring. Repeated CSF and blood samples were obtained from adult females in two social groups, and focal observations were performed for both new mothers and infants during the first month following parturition. We found that the reproductively aged nulliparous females who failed to give birth to their first offspring showed significantly lower CSF 5-HIAA concentrations than those females who gave birth. Among those females that gave birth to offspring, females with low CSF 5-HIAA concentrations and females with high plasma cortisol concentrations were overly protective and restrictive with their infants. CSF HVA concentration was not associated with reproductive output, social behavior, aggression, or mother–infant interactions in this sample of rhesus macaque females. We conclude that low CNS serotonin activity and high stress, measured by high plasma cortisol, are correlated with reduced reproductive success and patterns of high maternal restrictiveness in young adult female rhesus macaques.
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Acknowledgements
This research was conducted with support from NIH Grants 5U42RR05083 and R24 RR09983. The authors wish to thank Alecia Lilly, who supervised and assisted in the day-to-day behavior and biochemical data collection under an NIAAA Intramural Fellowship, and Patrick Mehlman who oversaw LABS support during the data collection phase of the project. In addition, our appreciation is expressed to Stephen Lindell, Courtney Shannon, Anne Hurley, Caroline Brewer, Keri Holmes, and to the LABS Animal Care staff who assisted in the biochemical sampling. The LABS of Virginia, Inc. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved a research protocol for this study in accordance with and as required by the Animal Welfare Act.
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Cleveland, A., Westergaard, G., Trenkle, M. et al. Physiological Predictors of Reproductive Outcome and Mother–Infant Behaviors in Captive Rhesus Macaque Females (Macaca mulatta). Neuropsychopharmacol 29, 901–910 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300361
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300361
