Plasma and CSF biomarkers of aging and cognitive decline in Caribbean vervets.

Introduction: Vervets are non-human primates that share high genetic homology with humans and develop amyloid beta (Aβ) pathology with aging. We expand current knowledge by examining Aβ pathology, aging, cognition, and biomarker proteomics.

Methods: Amyloid immunoreactivity in the frontal cortex and temporal cortex/hippocampal regions from archived vervet brain samples ranging from young adulthood to old age was quantified.

Effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide on alcohol consumption in alcohol-preferring male vervet monkeys.

Rationale: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists reduce alcohol consumption in rodents and non-human primates. Semaglutide is a new long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, widely used in the clinic against type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is also reported to reduce alcohol intake in rodents.

miRNA Expression Analysis of the Hippocampus in a Vervet Monkey Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Reveals a Potential Role in Global mRNA Downregulation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short-length non-protein-coding RNA sequences that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in a broad range of cellular processes including neuro- development and have previously been implicated in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). In this study, we use our vervet monkey model of FASD to follow up on a prior multivariate (developmental age × ethanol exposure) mRNA analysis (GSE173516) to explore the possibility that the global mRNA downregulation we observed in that study could be related to miRNA expression and function. We report here a predominance of upregulated and differentially expressed miRNAs.

Dose-Related Reduction in Hippocampal Neuronal Populations in Fetal Alcohol Exposed Vervet Monkeys.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a chronic debilitating condition resulting in behavioral and intellectual impairments and is considered the most prevalent form of preventable mental retardation in the industrialized world. We previously reported that 2-year-old offspring of vervet monkey () dams drinking, on average, 2.3 ± 0.

Age and Sex-Related Changes in Retinal Function in the Vervet Monkey.

Among the deficits in visual processing that accompany healthy aging, the earliest originate in the retina. Moreover, sex-related differences in retinal function have been increasingly recognized. To better understand the dynamics of the retinal aging trajectory, we used the light-adapted flicker electroretinogram (ERG) to functionally assess the state of the neuroretina in a large cohort of age- and sex-matched vervet monkeys ( = 35), aged 9 to 28 years old, with no signs of obvious ocular pathology.