MEASURING BONE-MINERAL CONTENT AND SOFT-T ISSUE MASS IN LIVING THE CYNOMOLGUS MONKEY

Bone mineral content and soft tissue (lean and fat) mass in living fem ale cynomolgus monkeys were successfully measured with a dual-energy X -ray absorptiometry (DEXA ; DPX-alpha, LUNARE, USA). Measurements were performed using a restraining bed made of forming polystyrol with 5cm thickness to support the animal in a supine position. Accuracy of mea surements was checked by using a dummy consisted by various combinatio ns of lean, lard and ribs. The results confirmed that this system is a ble to measure each consitituent exactly. The percentage of fat in the soft tissue is seemed to be better index of obesity in this primate s pecies when compared with other obesity markers such as body weight an d morphometry.