Jr. Kaplan et Sb. Manuck, USING ETHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES TO STUDY PSYCHOSOCIAL INFLUENCES ON CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN MONKEYS, Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 161, 1997, pp. 96-99
Studies with male cynomolgus monkeys suggest that atherosclerosis is p
otentiated among individuals that are habitually successful in their a
ggressive encounters with social strangers, thereby retaining dominant
social status in an unstable environment. Further, the increased risk
of atherosclerosis experienced by such animals is related in part, to
the autonomic (sympathetic) adjustments they make while responding to
the demands of retaining dominant status. These data provide clear su
pport for the hypothesis that psychosocial factors influence disease p
athogenesis via neuroendocrine mediation. Additionally, they provide i
nitial evidence in favor of Jim Henry's suggestion that the pattern of
neuroendocrine response to environmental challenge depends on the typ
e and degree of control an animal can exert in such circumstances (Hen
ry & Stephens 1977).