Abstract 412: A Unique Telemetric Method for Long-term Measurement of Blood Pressures and Core Body Temperature in Hypertensive and Normotensive Non-human Primates

Abstract

A non-human primate model of essential hypertension has unequivocal potential for understanding mechanisms of disease but requires a unique method for telemetric blood pressure measurement in animals living within a habituated natural environment. We have now identified a unique non-human primate model of spontaneous, essential hypertension in Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus, the African Green, or vervet, monkey. Using forearm plethysmography under light ketamine sedation (~15mg/kg), adult vervets were categorized as hypertensive (HT; SBP >140mmHg), borderline hypertensive (BHT; 120mmHg < SBP < 140mmHg), or normotensive (NT; SBP < 120 mmHg). Of the 168 males phenotyped, 32% (53 of 168) were HT (average SBP = 168.79±3.29mmHg), 27% (45 of 168) were BHT (average SBP = 129.58±0.88mmHg), and 41% (70 of 168) were NT (average SBP = 100.21±1.65mmHg). Stellar Telemetry solid-state pressure sensors were surgically implanted into the abdominal aorta of feral, male monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus aethiops). SBP, diastolic (DBP) and mean (MBP) arterial pressures, core body temperature and heart rate were determined using different data acquisition parameters to assess system precision and reliability in this physically active non-human primate with spontaneous essential hypertension. All animals were pre-phenotyped for blood pressure using forearm plethysmography under light ketamine anesthesia. Different recording parameters (n=4) yielded consistent BPs, in normotensive (MBP=104±4.35 mmHg) and hypertensive (MBP=126±7.57 mmHg) animals. Ultrasonographic examination documented effective sensor placement directly within the vessel lumen. Post implant necropsy revealed no sensor induced blood pathologies. Conscious, telemetered SBPs were consistent with those of monkeys measured using plethysmography. This model of hypertension in an Old World, non-human primate is translational to human essential hypertension and allows for new directions in a genetically similar species. The use of the Stellar Telemetry system is ideal for monitoring conscious blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature in active primates allowing for cardiovascular assessment during natural social interactions and species specific behaviors.