Studies on genetics of the metabolic syndrome and obesity in a model of nonhuman primates: potential relevance for the clinical and biomedical research

Raul A Bastarrachea; Elizabeth Tejero M; Cole Shelley A; Cai Guowen; Michael Proffitt; Anthony G Comuzzie

2003, Number 3

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Rev Endocrinol Nutr 2003; 11 (3)

Studies on genetics of the metabolic syndrome and obesity in a model of nonhuman primates: potential relevance for the clinical and biomedical research

Bastarrachea RA, Tejero ME, Shelley AC, Guowen C, Proffitt M, Comuzzie AG

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Language: Spanish
References: 27
Page: 120-128
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ABSTRACT

This paper summarizes current research performed in a large pedigreed colony (N > 2000) of baboons housed at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio, Texas, USA. It integrates a database currently in progress, which includes the collection of extensive phenotypic data. The long-term goal of this project is to identify genes that could influence adiposity-related phenotypes and to test the hypothesis that the pleiotropic effects of such genes affect other phenotypes related to an increased risk of developing common diseases, mainly coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Rodents are the most common animal model for research in obesity, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. However, there are strong physiological and developmental differences between rodents and humans resulting from the evolutionary divergence that occurred approximately 65 to 75 million years ago. The physiological and developmental traits of humans and baboons are much more similar and it is easier to collect data under well controlled situations in these animals than in a human population. For these reasons, the baboon is a highly valuable nonhuman primate model in the study of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. To date, we have obtained several adipose-specific endocrine measures, adipose tissue biopsies, and estimates of body composition on a large portion of our pedigreed colony. Our results seem to demonstrate that the pattern of adipose tissue accumulation closely parallels the pattern observed in humans. We have also been able to detect significant additive genetic heritabilities for these obesity-related phenotypes.

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