Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Endocrine System of the Squirrel Monkey

  • Chapter
Handbook of Squirrel Monkey Research

Abstract

In 1968, when the first treatise on the squirrel monkey appeared, it was already apparent that the physiology of New World monkeys differed from that of Old World primates, but few investigators were aware of the extensive differences in hormone metabolism and secretion (Rosenblum and Cooper, 1968). Since that time, it has become increasingly evident that the endocrine system of New World monkeys is extremely divergent from the general primate pattern in terms of both absolute hormone levels and the synthetic pathways utilized. We now know that most of the Callithricidae and smaller Cebidae have unusually high levels of adrenal and gonadal hormones, although typical values are difficult to describe because of the remarkable diversity in their reproductive physiology [for a species comparison, see Hearn (1983)]. In this chapter we will review a series of recent studies on the endocrine system of the squirrel monkey, which has some of the highest hormone levels observed so far. The level and magnitude of the hormone responses in the squirrel monkey have also provided a unique opportunity for assessing the influence of psychological and environmental variables, which may exert less overt effects in species with lower hormone levels. We will discuss the influence of seasonal and diurnal rhythms and the effect of genetic and maturational variables, and finally consider several of the important psychological processes that affect endocrine function.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ariga, S., Dukelow, W. R., Emley, G. S., and Hutchinson, R. R., 1978, Possible errors in identification of squirrel monkeys from different South American points of export, J. Med. Primatol.7:129–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, J. D., 1970, Reproductive synchronization in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri), Primates 11: 317–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belt, W. D., and Cavazos, L. F., 1970, Fine structures of the interstitial cells of Leydig in the squirrel monkey during seasonal regression, Anat. Rec. 169: 115–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. M., Grota, L. J., Penney, D. P., and Reichlin, S., 1970, Pituitary-adrenal function in the squirrel monkey, Endocrinology 86: 519–529.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. M., Schalch, D. S., and Reichlin, S., 1971, Patterns of growth hormone and cortisol responses to psychological stress in the squirrel monkey, Endocrinology 88: 956–963.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cassorla, F. G., Albertson, B. D., Chrousos, G. P., Booth, J. D., Renquist, D., Lipsett, M. B., and Loriaux, D. L., 1982, The mechanisms of hypercortisolemia in the squirrel monkey, Endocrinology 111(2):448–452.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. J., Smith, E. R., Gray, G. D., and Davidson, J. M., 1981, Seasonal changes in plasma testosterone and ejaculatory capacity in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), Primates 22: 253–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chrousos, G. P., Renquist, D., Brandon, D., Eil, C., Pugeal, M., Vigersky, R., Cutler, G. B., Loriaux, D. L., and Lipsett, M. B., 1982a, Glucocorticoid hormone resistance during primate evolution: Receptor mediated mechanisms, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79: 2036–2040.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chrousos, G. P., Renquist, D., Brandon, D., Barnard, D., Fowler, D., Loriaux, D. L., and Lipsett, M., 1982b, The squirrel monkey: Receptor-mediated end-organ resistance to progesterone? J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 55 (2): 364–368.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clewe, T. H., 1969, Observations on reproduction of squirrel monkeys in captivity, J. Reprod. Fertil. 6 (Suppl.): 151–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., and Levine, S., 1981, Psychoendocrine relationships underlying reproductive behavior in the squirrel monkey, Int. J. Ment. Health 10: 22–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., and Rosenblum, L. A., 1978, Annual reproductive strategy of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), Folio Primatol. 29: 19–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Mendoza, S. P., Davidson, J. M., Smith, E. R., Dallman, M. F., and Levine, S., 1978, Hormonal response to stress in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), Neuroendocrinology 26: 367–377.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Mendoza, S. P., and Levine, S., 1979, Social status constrains the stress response in the squirrel monkey, Physiol. Behay. 23: 633–638.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Chen, J. J., Lowe, E. L., Davidson, J. M., and Levine, S., 1981, Hormonal and behavioral changes at puberty in the squirrel monkey, Harm. Behay. 15: 36–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Franklin, D., Smith, E. R., and Levine, S., 1982, Hormonal responses accompanying fear and agitation in the squirrel monkey, Physiol. Behay. 29: 1051–1057.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Smith, E. R., Mendoza, S. P., and Levine, S., 1983a, Varying influence of social status on hormone levels in male squirrel monkeys, in: Hormones, Drugs, and Social Behavior ( A. S. Kling and H. D. Steklis, eds.), Spectrum, New York, pp. 7–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Smith, E. R., Franklin, D., and Levine. S., 1983b, Male recognition of subspecies differences in female squirrel monkeys, Am. J. Primatol. 4 (4): 340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, E. J., Aksel, S., Hazelton, J. M., Jennings, R. A., and Abee, C. R., 1984, Seasonal changes of serum concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in Bolivian squirrel monkeys, Am. J. Primato!. 6: 103–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DuMond, F. V., 1968, The squirrel monkey in a seminatural environment, in: The Squirrel Monkey ( L. A. Rosenblum and R. W. Cooper, eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 87–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, G. G., and Resko, J. A., 1974, Plasma testosterone and male dominance in a Japanese macaque (Macaca fiscata) troop compared with repeated measures of testosterone in laboratory males, Horm. Behay. 5: 251–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, M., Hutz, R. J., and Dukelow, W. R., 1982, Serum estradiol 170, progesterone and relative luteinizing hormone levels in Saimiri sciureus: Cyclic variations and the effect of laparoscopy and follicular aspiration. J. Med. Primato!. 11: 312–318.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, E. S., Coe, C. L., Murai, J. T., and Siiteri, P. K., 1983, Corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) response to estrogens and aromatase (estrogen synthetase) activity in the squirrel monkey, in: Endocrine Society Abstracts (65th meeting, San Antonio, Texas, June 8–10 ).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, C. A., Hennessy, M. B., and Levine, S., 1981, Subspecies differences in hormonal and mbehavioral responses after group formation in squirrel monkeys, Am. J. Primato!. 1: 439–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hearn, J., 1983, Reproduction in New World Primates, MTP Press, Lancaster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennessy, M. B., Coe, C. L., Mendoza, S. P., Lowe, E. L., and Levine, S., 1978, Scent-marking and olfactory investigatory behavior in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), Behay. Biol. 24: 57–67.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, J. K., Gulick, B. A., Czekala, N. M., and Lasley, B. L., 1981, Comparison of urinary estrogen excretion in South American primates, J. Reprod. Fertil. 61 (1): 83–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarosz, S. J., Kuehl, T. J., and Dukelow, W. R., 1977, Vaginal cytology, induced ovulation and gestation in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), Biol. Reprod. 16: 97–103.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, T. C., Thorington, R. W., Hu, M. M., Adams, E., and Cooper, R. W., 1973, Karyotypes of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) from different geographic regions, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 38: 269–277.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaack, B., Walker, M., and Walker, L., 1980, Seasonal changes in the thyroid hormones of the male squirrel monkey, Arch. Androl. 4 (2): 133–136.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, J. N., Chen, J. J., Smith, E. R., and Davidson, J. M., 1981, The development of seasonal variation in gonadal hormones and body weight in maturing squirrel monkeys, Int. J. Primato!. 2 (4): 369–380.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kittinger, G. W., and Beamer, N. B., 1968, Quantitative gas chromatography of squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) corticosteroids, Steroids 12 (2): 275–289.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuehl, T. J., and Dukelow, W. R., 1975, Ovulation induction during the anovulatory season in Saimiri sciureus, J. Med. Primato!. 4: 23–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, J. B., and Lee, R. B., 1965, The annual reproductive cycle in monkeys and apes, in: Primate Behavior: Field Studies on Monkeys and Apes ( I. DeVore, ed.), Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, pp. 486–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latta, J., Hopf, S., and Ploog, D., 1967, Observation of mating behavior and sexual play in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), Primates 8: 229–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manogue, K. R., Leshner, A. I., and Candland, D. K., 1975, Dominance status and adrenocortical reactivity to stress in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), Primates 16: 457–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, L. N., and McNease, P. E., 1982, Genetically determined antigens of squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) IgG, J. Med. Primato!. 11: 272–290.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, P., and Bateson, P., 1982, The lactation-blocking drug bromocriptine and its application to studies of weaning and behavioral development, Dev. Psychobiol. 15: 139–157.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza, S. P., Lowe, E. L., Davidson, J. M., and Levine, S., 1978a, Annual cyclicity in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus): The relationship between testosterone, fatting, and sexual behavior, Horm. Behay. 11: 295–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza, S. P., Lowe, E. L., Resko, J. A., and Levine, S., 19786, Seasonal variations in gonadal hormones and social behavior in squirrel monkeys, Physiol. Behay. 20: 515–522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza, S. P., Lowe, E. L., and Levine, S., 1978c, Social organization and social behavior in two subspecies of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), Folia Primato. 30: 126–144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza, S. P., Coe, C. L., Lowe, E. L., and Levine, S., 1979, The physiological response to group formation in adult male squirrel monkeys, Psychoneuroendocrinology 3: 221–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michael, R. P., and Zumpe, D., 1976, Environmental and endocrine factors influencing annual changes in sexual potency in primates, Psychoneuroendocrinology 1: 303–313.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Migeon, D. J., 1981, Physiology and pathology of adrenocortical function in infancy and childhood, in: Pediatric Endocrinology ( R. Collier, ed.), Raven Press, New York, pp. 465–522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musey, P. I., Collins, D. C., Gould, K. G., and Preedy, J. R. K., 1982, Estrogen metabolism in the New World monkeys: Urinary excretion of estradiol metabolites by squirrel monkeys, Physiologist 25 (4): 248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, R. D., and Rosenblum, L. A., 1972, Hormonal regulation of the “fatted” phenomenon in squirrel monkeys, Anat. Rec. 173: 181–187.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nieschlag, E., 1979, The endocrine function of the human testis in regard to sexuality, in: Sex, Hormones and Behavior (Ciba Foundation Symposium, 1978 ), Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp. 183–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkes, A. S. and Deanesley, R., 1966, Relation between the gonads and the adrenal glands, in: Marshall’s Physiology of Reproduction, Volume 3 ( A. S. Parkes, ed.), Little, Brown, Boston, pp. 1064–1111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penney, D. P., and Brown, G. M., 1971, The fine structural morphology of adrenal cortices of normal and stressed squirrel monkeys, J. Morphol. 134: 447–466.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Preslock, J. P., and Steinberger, E., 1977, Testicular steroidogenesis in the common marmoset,Callithrix jacchus, Biol. Reprod. 17: 289–293.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, R. M., Poe, R. O., and Mason, J. W., 1968, Psychological state and body size as determinants of 17-OCHS excretion, Arch. Intern. Med. (Chicago) 121: 406.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblum, L. A., 1968, Some aspects of female reproductive physiology in the squirrel monkey, in: The Squirrel Monkey ( L. A. Rosenblum and R. W. Cooper, eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 147–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblum, L. A., and Cooper, R. W., eds., 1968, The Squirrel Monkey, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seal, U. S., and Doe, R. P., 1965, Vertebrate distribution of corticosteroid-binding globulin and some endocrine effects on concentration, Steroids 8: 827–841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Setchell, K. D. R., Chua, K. S., and Himsworth, R. L., 1977, Urinary steroid excretion by the squirrel monkey, J. Endocrinol. 73: 365–375.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siiteri, P. K., Murai, J. T., Hammond, G. L., Nisker, J. A., Raymoure, W. J., and Kuhn, R. W., 1982, The serum transport of steroid hormones, Recent Prog. Horm. Research 38: 457–510.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snipes, C. A., Forest, M. G., and Migeon, C. J., 1969, Plasma androgen concentrations in several species of Old and New World monkeys, Endocrinology 85: 941–945.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taub, D. M., 1980, Age at first pregnancy and reproductive outcome among colony-born squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus,. Brazilian), Folia Primatol. 33: 262–272.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Travis, J. C., and Holmes, W. N., 1974, Some physiological and behavioral changes associated with oestrus and pregnancy in the squirrel monkey, J. Zool. Lond. 174: 41–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Horn, R. N., 1980, Seasonal reproductive patterns in primates, in: Seasonal Reproduction in Higher Vertebrates ( R. J. Reiter and B. K. Follett, eds.), Karger, Basel, pp. 181–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiebe, R. H., Diamond, E., Aksel, S., Liu, M. D., and Abee, C. R., 1984, Diurnal variations of androgens in sexually mature Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) during the breeding season, Am. J. Primatol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, M. I., Brown, G. M., and Wilson, D., 1978, Annual and diurnal changes in plasma androgen and cortisol in adult male squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) studied longitudinally, Acta Endocrinol. 87: 424–433.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, R. C., O’Connor, R. F., and Robinson, J. A., 1977, Cyclic changes in plasma progestins and estrogens in squirrel monkeys, Biol. Reprod. 17 (2): 228–231.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto, S., Utsu, S., Yanioka, Y., and Ohsawa, N., 1977, Extremely high levels of corticosteroids and low levels of corticosteroid binding molecule in plasma of marmoset monkeys, Acta Endocrinol. 85: 398–405.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305, USA

    Christopher L. Coe & Seymour Levine

  2. Department of Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305, USA

    Erla R. Smith

Authors
  1. Christopher L. Coe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Erla R. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Seymour Levine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Primate Behavior Laboratory and Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 11203, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    Leonard A. Rosenblum

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 94305, Stanford, California, USA

    Christopher L. Coe

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Coe, C.L., Smith, E.R., Levine, S. (1985). The Endocrine System of the Squirrel Monkey. In: Rosenblum, L.A., Coe, C.L. (eds) Handbook of Squirrel Monkey Research. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0812-7_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0812-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-0814-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-0812-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation