Baseline blood chemistry determinations of wild versus colony born common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) maintained in an indoor-outdoor environment

Typescript (photocopy).The objective of this study was to present reliable and quality controlled reference values for the hematological and serum constituents of the adult normal cotton-eared marmoset, and to note the differences, if any between sex and group (wild-born and colony-born). The compendium of baseline values should be valuable in providing reference data for clinical, biochemical and biomedical researchers. An indoor-outdoor colony of common marmosets was established at Texas A&M University in 1975. Over a three year period, hematological, serum constituents and vitamin values were collected from a representative group of apparently normal adult animals held under constant nutritional and environmental conditions. Reference values were obtained for hematological values, calcium, phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, creatinine phosphokinase, creatinine, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, glucose, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, and retinol. Leukocytes, serum glucose and triglycerides were found to be significantly higher in the wild-born animal. The colony-born animals were found to have a significantly higher weight, blood urea nitrogen, and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity than the wild-born animal. The mean cholesterol was found to be significantly lower in the female marmoset. The mean serum glucose was found to be 205.9 mg/dl, twice as high as that found for humans. A mean of 0.98 mg/dl was observed for ascorbic acid and a mean of 20.4 (mu)l/dl was observed for retinol. The mean activity coefficient of the in vitro stimulation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity was 1.0. Erythrocyte transketolase activity of the marmoset was three times higher than that found for humans or rats. "Chronic waster" marmosets were identified in the Texas A&M University marmoset colony. Low serum glucose and albumin was observed in the "waster" animals. These animals also exhibited an abnormal serum uptake of glucose for the test dosage of glucose. It was found that neither juvenile nor adult normal animals were able to hydrolyze lactose