NORMAL HEMATOLOGICAL AND PLASMA BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF THE CAPTIVEBONNET MONKEY (MACACA-RADIATA)

The bonnet monkey is being increasingly used as a model in biomedical research. However, unlike the rhesus monkey, very little information o n the hematological and biochemical characteristics of blood plasma is available. Comparative data on plasma biochemical parameters vis-a-vi s rhesus and human is essential for utilization of this species in bio medical research. Efforts were made to determine selected serum enzyme s, glucose, triglycerides, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total prot ein, albumin, cholesterol, bilirubin, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, mag nessium, potassium and total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, hemoglobin, PCV, ESR, and differential leukocyte count in groups of j uvenile and adult bonnet monkeys of both sexes. The monkeys exhibited similar values for all the parameters in comparison to rhesus and huma n except for alkaline phosphatase. The value for alkaline phosphatase was 3-5 fold higher when compared to concentrations seen in rhesus mon keys and human beings. The investigation also describes the variations seen between adults and juveniles, as well as between the sexes. The data presented is valuable for scientists using this species of monkey as a human surrogate model.