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Heagerty A, Wales RA, Coleman K. Effects of Seasonality and Pregnancy on Hair Loss and Regrowth in Rhesus Macaques. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:747. [PMID: 38473132 PMCID: PMC10930718 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Several studies have examined the etiology of alopecia, or hair loss, in rhesus macaques. While outcomes differ across studies, some commonalities have emerged. Females, particularly pregnant females, show more alopecia than males, and alopecia follows a seasonal pattern. Much research has explored causes of hair loss; however, alopecia can result from lack of hair growth in addition to hair loss. To better understand how sex, reproductive state, and season affect alopecia, we followed 241 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in outdoor breeding groups over one year, recording both alopecia severity and presence of hair regrowth. We found that both alopecia and hair regrowth followed a seasonal pattern; alopecia was highest in spring and lowest in late summer, while regrowth started in spring and peaked in late summer. Reproductive state also correlated with both alopecia and hair growth. Females in their third trimester had the highest average level of alopecia and the lowest amount of hair regrowth. Regrowth resumed postpartum, regardless of whether females were rearing an infant. Results indicate that the seasonal pattern of alopecia is due in part to the seasonal limitations on hair regrowth, and that breeding, which also occurs seasonally in rhesus macaques, may further suppress hair regrowth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Heagerty
- Animal Resources & Research Support, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA (K.C.)
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Shen H, Li C, He M, Huang Y, Wang J, Luo J, Wang M, Yue B, Zhang X. Whole blood transcriptome profiling identifies candidate genes associated with alopecia in male giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). BMC Genomics 2022; 23:297. [PMID: 35413801 PMCID: PMC9004003 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08501-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a threatened species endemic to China. Alopecia, characterized by thinning and broken hair, mostly occurs in breeding males. Alopecia significantly affects the health and public image of the giant panda and the cause of alopecia is unclear. Results Here, we researched gene expression profiles of four alopecia giant pandas and seven healthy giant pandas. All pandas were approximately ten years old and their blood samples collected during the breeding season. A total of 458 up-regulated DEGs and 211 down-regulated DEGs were identified. KEGG pathway enrichment identified that upregulated genes were enriched in the Notch signaling pathway and downregulated genes were enriched in ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation, and thermogenesis pathways. We obtained 28 hair growth-related DEGs, and identified three hub genes NOTCH1, SMAD3, and TGFB1 in PPI analysis. Five hair growth-related signaling pathways were identified with abnormal expression, these were Notch, Wnt, TGF-β, Mapk, and PI3K-Akt. The overexpression of NOTCH1 delays inner root sheath differentiation and results in hair shaft abnormalities. The delayed hair regression was associated with a significant decrease in the expression levels of TGFB1. Conclusions Our data confirmed the abnormal expression of several hair-related genes and pathways and identified alopecia candidate genes in the giant panda. Results of this study provide theoretical basis for the establishment of prevention and treatment strategies for giant pandas with alopecia. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08501-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Shen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, PR China
| | - Caiwu Li
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, 611830, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Ming He
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, 611830, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, 611830, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, 611830, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Jing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, PR China
| | - Minglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, 611830, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Bisong Yue
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, PR China
| | - Xiuyue Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, PR China. .,No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China.
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Heagerty A, Wales RA, Prongay K, Gottlieb DH, Coleman K. Social hair pulling in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Am J Primatol 2017; 79:10.1002/ajp.22720. [PMID: 29095507 PMCID: PMC5731487 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Alopecia is common among captive populations of nonhuman primates. There are many potential causes of alopecia, including physiological conditions such as hormonal imbalance and infection, features of the captive environment such as housing type, ground substrate, and group density, as well as behavioral abnormalities such as self-plucking. A potential behavioral cause of alopecia in group-housed primates is social hair pulling, where one animal pulls hair from a conspecific. While social hair pulling has been conflated with overgrooming in some of the alopecia literature, other authors have categorized it as a form of aggression rather than a form of excessive grooming. In this study, we examined social hair pulling, grooming, and aggression within seven groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) (N = 319). We took weekly 30-min behavioral observations on each group for one year to assess the patterns of hair pulling and grooming, which monkeys were receiving and initiating these behaviors, as well as aggression and other behaviors indicating dominance. We also assessed the amount of alopecia on each individual monthly. While grooming tended to be directed "up" the hierarchy (i.e., monkeys were more likely to groom animals of a higher rank than lower rank), most hair pulling was directed "down" the hierarchy. Further, hair pulling seldom co-occurred with aggressive behaviors, suggesting that it was not a form of aggression. Hair pulling also usually resulted in ingestion of the pulled hair. Hair pulling was correlated with alopecia; monkeys who were frequent recipients of hair pulling scored higher on monthly alopecia ratings than those who were less often observed having hair pulled. Our results suggest that social hair pulling is a behavior distinct from either grooming or aggressive behavior, and that it may contribute to alopecia in socially housed macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Heagerty
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon
| | - Rebecca A Wales
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon
| | - Kamm Prongay
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon
| | - Daniel H Gottlieb
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon
| | - Kristine Coleman
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, Oregon
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Coleman K, Lutz CK, Worlein JM, Gottlieb DH, Peterson E, Lee GH, Robertson ND, Rosenberg K, Menard MT, Novak MA. The correlation between alopecia and temperament in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at four primate facilities. Am J Primatol 2015; 79:1-10. [PMID: 26581955 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Revised: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alopecia is a ubiquitous, multifaceted problem at facilities caring for captive rhesus macaques. There is a wide range of potential etiologies for the hair loss, including compromised immune function, dermatological pathologies, and environmental factors. However, few studies have examined whether various temperamental traits affect vulnerability to develop alopecia. We examined the correlation between alopecia and temperament in 101 (51M) indoor-housed rhesus macaques at four national primate centers. We utilized a cage side version of the Human Intruder test (HIT) to assess response to four conditions: no human present (Alone), human intruder standing next to the cage without making eye contact (Profile), intruder making direct eye contact (Stare) and intruder with back turned (Back). Behavior from all videos was quantified at one facility. We used generalized linear modeling to examine the relationship between behavior on the HIT and alopecia, controlling for facility, age, and sex. There was a significant negative correlation between alopecia and various behaviors associated with an inhibited or anxious temperament, including self-directed behavior (β = -0.15, P < 0.001) and freeze in the Profile period (β = -0.0092, P < 0.001), and defensive behaviors (β = -0.0094, P < 0.001) and time spent in the back of the cage in the Stare period (β = -0.0023, P = 0.015). Individuals with an inhibited or anxious temperament had less alopecia than others. Further, there were facility differences with respect to several variables on the HIT, including defensive behavior in Stare and freeze in Profile. These results suggest that temperament can influence the development of alopecia in rhesus macaques. Our results also highlight the degree to which facility differences can affect outcomes on standardized behavioral tests. Am. J. Primatol. 79:e22504, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Corrine K Lutz
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Julie M Worlein
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Emily Peterson
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Grace H Lee
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | - Mark T Menard
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts
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