title: Suppressed immune response in infant monkeys associated with maternal separation.
abstract: The effect of maternal separation on an in vitro measure of the cellular immune response was studied in infant bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata). Using a modified mixed-species separation paradigm, bonnet mother-infant pairs were each housed with a single adult female pigtailed monkey (Macaca nemestrina). Over a 14-day separation period, the infants showed a suppression of lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens relative to a 14-day baseline period which preceded separation. The lymphocyte response was restored following reunion. During separation, infants were initially agitated, and this was followed by observations of reduced activity and a slouched posture. Behaviors returned to baseline conditions following reunion. It was concluded that suppressed immunological functioning may be included among the pathophysiological consequences of maternal separation in infant monkeys.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008255:Macaca radiata; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation