title: Identification of rhesus macaques with spontaneous endometriosis.
abstract: Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with endometriosis were identified using reproductive histories, serum levels CA-125, pelvic ultrasonography, laparoscopy, and histopathology. All animals were evaluated from a large breeding colony and had a history of infertility and/ or spontaneous abortions. Laparoscopy and ultrasonography were performed on 40 macaques: 27 macaques from the breeding colony with elevated CA-125 levels, ten macaques from the breeding colony with normal or low serum CA-125 levels, and three macaques from another facility with previously diagnosed spontaneous endometriosis. Clinical endometriosis was diagnosed by laparoscopy in 16/37 (43%) macaques from the breeding colony and was confirmed by histologic examination in all animals biopsied. The disease was classified as minimal (40%), mild (25%), moderate (10%), or severe (25%). The most common sites of endometriosis were the serosal surface of the uterus (75%) and the posterior cul-de-sac (75%). In this study, CA-125 levels were useful in identifying animals from the breeding colony with endometriosis. The rhesus macaque provides a valuable animal model to study endometriosis and potentially to assess efficacy of therapeutic agents for this disease condition.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Laboratories, Greenfield, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rippy
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kuehl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015995:Prevalence; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen