Adrenal cortex and stomach lesions associated with stress in wild male African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) in the post-capture period

The objective of this study was to look for early pathological changes in s tress target organs, adrenal glands, and stomachs in captured wild African green monkeys (AGMs). Three wild-caught male AGMs and seven singly housed w ild AGMs were euthanized on day 1 and day 45 post-capture, respectively, an d compared with four wild males euthanized with a rifle as controls. Morpho metric analyses of the adrenal cortices and the cortical zones were done us ing an image analyzer. By day 45, the confined animals were clinically heal thy, but had lost 47% mean body weight despite ad libitum feeding. The widt h of zona fasciculata in the controls was significantly smaller compared wi th that of 45-day monkeys (P < 0.05). Numerous acidophilic, hyperplastic an d hypertrophic cells were present in the zona fasciculata of the I-day conf ined AGMs. In the 45-day monkeys, there was glandular hyperplasia in the zo na glomerulosa and the acini were distended and vacuous; yellow, granular p igmentation was distributed in the zona fasciculata. Acute stomach lesions represented by petechiation were seen in one monkey on day 1, Deep, circula r, mucosal erosions, one to five in number and measuring from 0.5 to 1 mm i n diameter, were present in three monkeys on day 45 post-capture. There wer e no adrenal cortex or stomach lesions in the rifle-shot monkeys. In conclu sion, pathological lesions in the adrenal glands, and stomachs of the wild AGMs and weight loss occurred within the initial 45-day period following ca pture and confinement.