Cerebrospinal fluid monoaminergic metabolites differ in wild anubis and hybrid (Anubis hamadryas) baboons: Possible relationships to life history andbehavior

This article reports monoaminergic metabolite [homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-h ydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG )], values from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 27 wild baboons (Papio ham adryas) aged 40 to 140 months. Animals were either anubis, or anubis with h amadryas admixture; males of the latter subspecies generally have a reduced tendency to disperse from their natal groups. Overall, the values and inte rrelationships among the CSF monoamine metabolites resembled data reported from closely related, captive-housed animals. For example age was significa ntly correlated with HVA concentrations (r = -60, p < .05), but not with th e other metabolites. Notably, males characterized by hamadryas admixture ha d significantly higher concentrations of HVA, 5-HIAA, and MHPG (p (.05, res pectively), a result possibly driven by differences in serotonergic activit y. These data provide initial evidence that variation in central monoaminer gic activity, as indicated by CSF monoamine metabolite concentrations, may reflect differences in behavior and life history that have taxonomic and, p erhaps, evolutionary significance. (C) 1999 American College of Neuropsycho pharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.