THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
Vol. 48, No. 5
Copyright © 1967 by The Williams & Wilkins Co.
Printed in U.S.A.
COMPENDIUM OF NORMAL BLOOD VALUES FOR BABOONS,
CHIMPANZEES, AND MARMOSETS
KENNETH F. BURNS, D.V.M., D.V.Sc, PH.D., FRED G. FERGUSON, D.V.M., M.P.H.,
AND SUZANNE H. HAMPTON, M.S.
Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Vivarial Science and Research, and
Department of Physiology, New Orleans, Louisiana 10119,
In a previous article we demonstrated the
reliability and use of automated, macro, and
ultramicro analytical systems for determining the chemical and hematologic constituents in bloods of small laboratory animals.4 These data also indicated that
difficulties in handling minute quantities of
blood obtained from these species have been
substantially overcome.
This is a continuation of the above study.
The objective was to determine normal
values for certain serum chemical components, and to investigate some of the hematologic elements associated with the
physiology of laboratory primates. These
values appear to be essential to biomedical
research if results of animal experimentation
are to be extrapolative and objective for man.
The manual technics for counting red and
white blood cells are extremely demanding
of the time of research and clinical laboratory personnel. An electronic particle counter,
the Coulter Counter,* was employed to provide accurate cell counts, with a considerable
conservation of time. It has been demonstrated that the manual hemacytometer has
a "field error" resulting from the random
distribution of cells in the counting chamber.1 Increasing the number of cells that are
counted with an electronic cell counter reduces the field error to a negligible level.23
An innovation in hematologic procedures
Received November 28, 19GG.
This research was supported in part by U. S.
Public Health Service Training Grant No. 5 Tl
GM 1184 and Research Grant No. 5 T01 06578.
Dr. Ferguson's present address is Postdoctoral
Fellow, Department of Pathobiology, School of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Hampton's present address is University
of Texas, Institute for Dental Science, Houston,
Texas 77025.
* Coulter Electronics, Inc., Hialeah, Florida.
is the development of a disposable, self-filling,
self-measuring, blood dilution pipette.f The
simplicity of operation of this system reduces
human error, while maintaining an accuracy comparable with high quality glass
blood dilution pipettes.13 This system allows
routine blood sampling of large numbers of
smaller laboratory primates with greater
ease and accuracy.
EQUIPMENT AND METHODOLOGY
Ultramicro Technics
Clotted blood samples were taken by venipuncture from anesthetized baboons and
chimpanzees, and from tranquilized and untranquilized marmosets. The femoral, cubital,
or saphenous vein, depending on the size of
the animal being bled, was used to collect
1-ml. samples of blood, to which was
added sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid (EDTA).
Ultramicro blood chemistry analyses were
conducted with the Beckman/Spinco Model
150 System!, and baselines were determined
for calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine,
glucose, phosphorus, total protein, albumin
and globulin, urea nitrogen, uric acid, and
serum transaminase. For our purposes the
ultramicro methods were those in which the
sample volume necessary to complete the
tests indicated is 5 to 200 pi. (Table 1).
All determinations, with the exception of
the cholesterol, creatinine, uric acid, and
serum transaminase (S), were conducted as
outlined in previous report.4' 7"9' 12' 14' 16' "•
26,27 >T;0 p r e vent unnecessary repetition, these
similar tests will not be described.
Cholesterol. The ultramicro adaptation of
t Becton, Dickinson and Company, East Rutherford, New Jersey 07073.
{Beckman Instruments, Inc., 2500 Harbor Blvd.,
Fullerton, California 92632.
484
Nov. 1967
NORMAL BLOOD VALUES OF LABORATORY PRIMATES
TABLE 1
VOLUMES OF BLOOD OK SERUM NECESSARY
TO COMPLETE
THE TESTS INDICATED
Volume (u/.)
Determination
Physicul
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Erythrocyte unci leukocyte (automated)
Erythrocyte and leukocyte
(Unopette System)
Chemical
Albumin
Calcium
Chloride
Cholesterol
Creatinine
Glucose
Phosphorus
Potassium
Sodium
Total protein
Urea nitrogen
Uric acid
Transaminase
SCOT
SCPT
Whole
Blood Serum
20
45
20
13
5
20
10
5
40
10
20
50
50
10
10
20
200
200
the method of Zak28 was used for the determination of total cholesterol.
Creatinine. The ultramicro adaptation of
Folin and Wu,10 and Clark and Thompson, 6
which is essentially the Jaffe alkaline picrate
reaction, was performed to determine the
concentration of creatinine in a protein-free
sample.
Serum transaminase. Serum glutamic
oxalacetic (SCOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels were determined on serum samples by the method of
Reitman and Frankel,22 as modified in the
commercially available reagent kit.*
Uric acid. The ultramicro adaptation of
the method of Caraway6 was used.
Unopettes. Disposable dilution pipettes
were used with marmoset blood samples for
enumeration of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and
* Dade Reagents, Inc., 1851 Delaware Parkway,
Miami, Florida 33125.
485
platelets. To the Unopette reservoir containing 2.6 ml. of 0.S5 % NaCl, 13 ixl of blood
were added. After mixing, 1 drop was transferred to a standard hemacytometer chamber for conventional erythrocyte counting.
One drop of stomatolytic agent (Redout
B-D)f was then added to the diluted blood
in the reservoir. After 3 min. the hemacytometer was again charged for leukocyte
counting. White cells in nine 1-mm. squares
were counted, 10% was added to the total,
and the result was multiplied by 200. The
volume of diluted blood was 0.9 cu. mm.
Thus a 10 % addition raised the quantity to
1 cu. mm. and the factor of 200 allowed for
dilution. After a 10-min. settling period, the
same charged hemacytometer was used for
platelet counting. Platelets were counted in
the central 1 sq. mm. at a 1:200 dilution.
Reticulocytes. Brilliant cresyl blue, made
up as a 0.5% solution in absolute alcohol,
was spread on coverslips. A drop of blood
was then placed on the prepared coverslip,
mixed gently, and a blood slide was prepared
in the usual manner. After drying, the slide
was counterstained with Wright's stain. The
number of reticulocytes seen while counting
1000 eiythrocytes was divided by 10 to express the result in percentage.
Differential blood smear. Blood smears were
stained with Wright's stain, and the percentage of each type of cell in a total of 100
leukocytes was determined.
Microanalytical Technics
Hemoglobin. The hemoglobin determinations were performed on the same laboratory
primate blood samples utilized for red and
white cell counts. All determinations were
made in duplicate on the Bausch & Lomb
Spectrocolori meter, f A volumetric pipette
was used to deliver the unclotted 0.02-ml.
blood into 5 ml. of potassium ferricyanide
solution (Drabkin's reagent). After a
thorough mixing and a 5-min. wait, the unknown aliquots were transferred to clean
cuvettes and read at a wave length of 540
m/x as percentage of transmission. The percentage of transmission was then converted
to Grams of hemoglobin per 100 ml. of blood
t Bausch & Lomb Inc., 035 St. Paul Street, Rochester, New York 14G02.
480
BURNS ET AL.
with a standard table which had been
checked against a cyanmethemoglobin standard.
Hematocrit. Microhematocrit determinations were performed in duplicate on the
Adams Autocrit Centrifuge.* Duplicate
plain capillary tubes were filled to two-thirds
to three-fourths of their capacity from the
companion blood sample used for the cell
counts. The capillary tubes were then centrifuged at 12,000 r.p.m. for 3 min. After
centrifugation the packed cell volume
(p.c.v.) was determined as a percentage of
100 from the spiral scale plate of the Autocrit
centrifuge. The average of the two determinations was recorded as the hematocrit for
the blood sample.
Sodium and 'potassium. A direct reading
flame photometerf was employed to measure
the amount of these electrolytes with the
method of Knights and associates.18
Automated Procedures
Vol. 48
pulse which was recorded by the decade
counter, and visualized on the oscilloscope
screen of the Coulter Counter. Exactly 0.5
ml. of cell suspension passed through the
aperture with each operation.
Optimal upper and lower threshold values
were pre-established for the differing animal
species, and continuously monitored on the
oscilloscope of the electronic cell counter.
Duplicate counts were performed on the
same unclotted blood specimens in all
instances. The dilution for the white blood
cell (1:500) required 20 /xl. of blood diluted
in 10 ml. of Eagle's solution. To this 1:500
cell dilution, 100 jul. of a 1.0% saponin suspension were added to lyse all erythrocytes
present, and to allow the white blood cells to
be counted electronically. From the original
unlysedcell dilution 100 n\. were transferred
into another 10 ml. of Eagle's solution, yielding a final dilution of 1:50,000 for the red
cell determination. As a result of the
inevitable probability of coincident or multiple cell passage through the aperture, the
actual adjusted cell count was determined
in each instance from the standardized
Coulter coincidence table. The aveiage of
the duplicate corrected cell counts was
recorded as the determination for each blood
sample.
The Model B high speed cell counter of
Coulter Electronics was used to determine
the red blood cell and white blood cell counts,
in duplicate, on each marmoset, chimpanzee,
and baboon hematology sample. The operational procedures have been veiy adequately
described by Brecher and co-workers2 and
Mattern and associates,20 and evaluated for
human cell counts by Richar and Breakell.23
Although previous researchers proved the
value of this technic in relation to human
needs, in this work it was intended that it
be evaluated for utility and reliability for
counting animal cells which vary considerably in size and which, in some instances,
have differing morphology from one another,
e.g., nucleated fowl cells.
Animal blood for the red and white cell
counts was suspended in a conductive
medium (Eagle's solution). The diluted cellular suspensions were drawn through a 100-M
aperture by an external vacuum source, thus
altering conductivity through the current
conducting aperture. Each cell passage
caused a difference in conductivity, and this
difference was translated into an electrical
The results of the electronic cell counts
were compared with hemacytometer counts
from companion blood samples. Representative cellular values are given in Table 2.
Cells in all blood samples collected from
chimpanzees were counted by both methods.
Hemacytometer counts were made on the
American Optical Spencer Brite Line
improved Neubauer counting chamber.!
After thorough mixing on a Clay-Adams
pipette shaker,§ suspensions in standard red
and white blood cell dilutions were used to
charge the counting chambers. Gower's solution was used as the red cell diluent, and
2% acetic acid was used as the white cell
diluent. Standard methods of counting cells,
as outlined by Seiverd25 and Levinson and
MacFate, 19 were employed at all times.
* Clay-Adams Co., 141 East 25th Street. New
York, New York 10010.
f Beckman Instruments, Inc.
% American Optical Company, Southbridge, Massachusetts.
§ Clay-Adams Co.
Standard Hemacytometer Reference
Nov. 1967
NORMAL BLOOD VALUES OF LABORATORY PRIMATES
4S7
per sample. The difference in the count beTABLE 2
'RBI'KESKNTATIVJ!! JiLBCTKONlC ClSLLULAK COUNTS tween two successively higher threshold (?')
ON BLOODS OF CHIMPANZEES (PAN si'.) COM- levels represents the number of cells present
PARED WITH STANDARD HEMACYTOMETER REF- which fall in the size range between the cell
ERENCE
sizes which correspond to each of the threshold settings. 3 ' 2I The MPT is determined as
White Cell Counts
Red Cell Counts
Sample
follows:
No. Instrument Hemacytom- Instrument Hemacytometer
eter
(Successive midpoint T) (DiflO'/mm* W'/mm' IIP/mm} IIP/mm'
ference of successive pairs of T)
MPT =
1
4.75
4.85
11.450
10.800
Difference of successive pairs of T
2
4.30
4.15
15.950
16.125
Mean cell volume (MCV). This index is a
3
5.10
5.00
6.250
6.500
figure indicating the mean or average vol4
5.75
5.70
11.500
12.350
ume of each erythrocyte.
5
5.15
5.10
16.900
15.000
6
4.80
4.75
13.175
12.900
Volume of packed cells in
7
4.05
3.95
0.225
6.050
8
3.85
3.90
12.400
10.725
hematocrit % X 10
MCV ( 3) =
9
4.20
4.20
7.050
7.150
Red blood cell count
10
4.05
4.65
7.625
7.725
(millions)/mm 3
11
3.85
3.85
6.025
6.100
Calibration factor. This index indicates the
12
3.30
3.35
G.625
6.350
volume per threshold division (TD) for the
13
5.25
5.05
11.400
9.775
Coulter Counter at the aperture current
14
4.75
4.60
18.625
17.725
15
4.80
3.70
7.325
7.425
(AC) and amplification (AMP) at which it
IG
5.20
5.20
8.950
8.175
has been determined.
17
4.45
4.50
9.150
9.850
MCV
18
5.20
4.80
5.375
4.975
Calibration factor ( / / T D ) =
19
4.50
4.60
9.850
10.175
MPT
20
5.10
4.80
5.400
5.000
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). This
21
4.30
4.20
4.400
4.050
index is a figure indicating the mean or
22
4.40
4.25
4.325
3.900
23
6.50
0.80
7.325
7.425
average weight of hemoglobin per eryth24
6.10
6.10
G.925
6.700
rocyte. The MCH is expressed in terms of
25
4.75
4.80
20.175
17.775
picograms (10~12 Gm.)
26
5.50
5.55
8.725
8.650
27
5.95
5.85
17.000
17.200
Hemoglobin in Grams/100 ml. of
28
7.10
7.35
9.150
10.300
blood X 10
MCH
29
4.55
4.75
9.800
10.050
3
Red
blood
cell
count
(millions)/mm
30
4.15
4.20
7.550
7.875
31
5.00
5.20
9.275
9.150
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentra32
4.30
4.45
18.975
20.625
tion (MCHC). This index is a figure repre33
4.90
4.90
13.400
15.200
senting the mean or average weight of
34
4.60
4.55
8.750
8.825
hemoglobin per 100 ml. of packed erythro35
5.75
6.00
9.850
10.775
cytes in terms of percentage.
3G
4.55
4.60
10.050
11.000
37
4.90
5.15
9.975
10.825
Hemoglobin in Grams/
38
4.45
4.30
13.000
13.575
100 ml. of blood X 100
39
5.15
4.90
14.350
13.975
MCHC =
40
4.40
4.55
10.800
10.350
Volume of packed cells %
41
4.45
4.45
8.025
7.625
(hematocrit)
42
5.10
5.05
5.800
5.925
BIOSTATISTICS
Statistical calculations of the studies of
IlED CELL INDICES
Mean particle threshold (MPT). With the the red cell indices and the chemical conCoulter model B Counter it is possible to stituents were the arithmetic mean, standard
obtain cell size distribution in about 30 min. deviation, coefficient of variation, and the
4SS
Vol. 4S
BURNS ET AL.
/%
6^7.0
o
X
^-*
2 6.0
c
3
o
o
= 5.0
0)
O
TJ
£4.0
i<X>
•c
= 3.0
o
^
a>
= 2.0
o
,y<"
yj
* »-/^
* *^^
•y> "
*•
•
*s^
i r>
ao
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Hemocytometer Red Cell Counts (x I0 6 )
FIG. 1. Red blood cell scatter diagram
5
7
9
Hemocytometer
II
13
15
17
White Cell Counts (xlO3)
FIG. 2. White blood cell scatter diagram
19
21
Nov. J 967
489
NORMAL BLOOD VALUES OF LABORATORY PRIMATES
upper and lower 95 % confidence limits of the
mean. All test data were placed in order of
rank, and programmed on an electronic computer.
SPECIES OF ANIMALS EMPLOYED
All of the laboratory primates used in
these studies had been conditioned to a
laboratoiy environment for periods from 6
months to 4j4 years at the time of sampling.
They had received several regimens with
various antibiotics (Panmycin and Chloromycetin), and parasiticides (Thibenzole and
Povan), including vitamin supplementary
therapy (Fero-Gracl 500), designed to produce animals with a certified clinical health
status. The primary objective in establishing
this status was to provide conditioned animals for atherosclerosis studies, irradiation
response, the role and use of immunosuppressive agents, and organ transplantation
and vascular surgery procedures. No clinical
evidence of disease was observed in these
animals at the time of blood collections.
Baboons. Baboons (Papio sp.), weighing
S.5 to 26.9 kg., obtained from Kenya, East
Africa, were being maintained in the
vivarium of Tulane University School of
Medicine, and fed on a commercially prepared primate diet, which was not considered
to be atherogenic, supplemented with grain
and vegetables. The baboons were conditioned participants for a primate atherosclerosis study. Repeated fecal examinations
TABLE 3
CELLULAR CONSTITUENTS AND RED CELL INDICES OF BABOON BLOOD (RANDOM SEXED)*
Determinations
Range of
Observations
Sampling
Mean
S.D.
4.17-5.30
5.20-11.19
10.50-14.70
34.10-45.10
46.84-53.19
73.70-90.71
1.54-1.89
21.65-30.61
26.25-38.88
4.79
7.46
12.77
40.12
50.46
84.37
1.67
20.59
31.82
0.35
2.04
1.17
3.44
2.16
4.71
0.10
1.88
2.42
Confidence Coefficient of
Limits 95%t Variation
%
Erythrocyte (X10«)
Leukocyte (X103)
Hemoglobin (Gm./lOO ml.)
Hematocrit (%)
Mean particle threshold
Mean corpuscular volume (M3)
Calibration factor (p3)
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (10~12 Cm.)
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
* No. of animals in each sample
f t = 2.101.
0.17
0.98
0.56
1.56
1.04
2.27
0.05
0.91
1.17
7.31
27.34
9.1G
S.57
4.2S
5.5S
5.99
7.07
7.61
21.
TABLE 4
CELLULAR CONSTITUENTS AND RED CELL INDICES OF CHIMPANZEE BLOOD (RANDOM SEXED)*
Determinations
Erythrocyte (X10°)
Leukocyte (X103)
Hemoglobin (Gm./lOO ml.)
Hematocrit (%)
Mean particle threshold
Mean corpuscular volume (M3)
Calibration factor (M3)
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (10~12 Gm.)
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
* No. of animals in each sample
f I = 2.019.
42.
Range of
Observations
Sampling
Mean
S.D.
3.30-7.10
4.33-20.18
7.80-17.40
26.00-52.00
37.06-54.28
55.40-95.15
1.31-2.24
19.85-29.98
26.92-40.00
4.80
10.13
12.05
38.32
46.35
75.28
1.63
24.83
31.28
0.72
4.OS
l.SS
5.47
3.94
8.49
0.19
2.48
2.49
Confidence Coefficient of
Limits 95%t Variation
0.22
1.27
0.59
1.70
1.23
2.64
0.00
0.77
0.78
%
14.SI
40.31
15.60
14.27
S.50
11.2S
11.66
9.99
7.96
490
Vol. 4S
BURNS ET AL.
revealed infrequent low level infestations of
Isospora sp. and Strongyloides sp., which
were transitory, in a few of the animals.
Chimpanzees. Chimpanzees (Pan sp.),
weighing 8.0 to 63.0 kg., were housed in facilities specifically designed to hold large laboratory primates, and were being conditioned
as major organ transplant candidates. Routine fecal examinations revealed a few low
level and transitory Strongyloides sp. infestations. All animals were fed a commercial
primate diet, supplemented with a variety
of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Marmosets. The species of marmoset used
in this study was Oedipomidas oedipus. All
animals had been maintained under laboratory conditions as a breeding colony. All
were adults and weighed from 325 to 500
TABLE 5
CELLULAR CONSTITUENTS OF MARMOSET BLOOD (RANDOM SEXED)
Determinations
Erythrocyte (X106)
Leukocyte (X103)
Hematocrit (%)
Differential blood smear
Lymphocytes
Neutrophils
Monocytes
Basophils
Eosinophils
Platelets
Reticulocytes
Number of
Sampling
Animals in Range of Observations Mean
Sample
27 (39f)
27 (39)
109 (169)
70 (135)
6 (6)
2 (2)
5.47-8.68
7.30-24.60
34-62
6.55
14.37
47.30
Coefficient
Confidence Limits 95%* of
Variation
%
0.83
12.67
0.26
29.90
4.29
1.35
11.20
5.31
0.80
S.D.
9-66
33.90
14.32
2.41
30-90
63.40
13.88
2.35
0-11
2.30
2.53
0.43
0-6
0.27
0.71
0.12
0-2
1.25
0.35
0.06
331,000-650,000 454,800 127,400 119,000
(/. = 2.571)
1.00-1.10
1.05
42.20
21.S9
110.00
263.00
438.00
28.00
* t = 1.9G.
t No. of samples.
TABLE 6
CHIMPANZEE BIOCHEMICAL SERUM VALUES (MATURE) (RANDOM SEXED)*
Determinations
Range of
Observations
Sampling
Mean
Confidence Limits
»5%t
Coefficient of
Variation
10.37
1.08
0.36
2.07
0.59
0.60
3.80
1.36
0.22
2.79
17.67
0.5S
6.72
0.69
0.64
1.34
0.3S
0.3S
2.46
0.SS
7.32
4.10
12.32
7.14
17.40
29.27
14.35
14.09
9.29
9.14
51.43
64.93
S.D.
%
Calcium (mEq./liter)
4.32-5.15
Chloride (mEq./liter)
99.20-110.90
Cholesterol (mg./lOO ml.)
191.60-277.00
Creatinine (mg./lOO ml.)
1.08-1.33
Glucose (fasting) (mg./lOO ml.) 47.80-72.00
Phosphorus (mg./lOO ml.)
2.40-5.24
Potassium (mEq./liter)
2.90-3.87
Sodium (mEq./liter)
135.00-141.00
Total protein (Gm./lOO ml.)
6.28-8.30
A/G ratio
1.16-2.52
Urea nitrogen (mg./lOO ml.)
4.89-15.57
Uric acid (mg./lOO ml.)
3.10-6.76
Serum transaminase (units)
12-58
SCOT
9-46
SGPT
* No. of animals in each sample = 27.
t I = 2.05.
4.78
105.04
221.00
1.26
59.43
3.69
3.58
137.83
7.40
1.86
9.96
4.68
27.90
21.70
0.35
4.31
27.24
0.09
10.06
1.50
7.97
32.26
38.15
29.06
Nov. 1967
491
NORMAL BLOOD VALUES OP LABORATORY PRIMATES
TABLE 7
CHIMPANZEE BIOCHEMICAL SERUM VALUES (JUVENILE) (RANDOM SEXED)*
Range of
Observations
Sampling
Mean
S.D.
Confidence
Limits 95%t
Coefficient of
Variation
4.42-4.86
96.50-109.00
225.50-327.00
1.27-1.67
22.00-90.40
67.30-100.90
4.85-7.50
3.53-5.25
146.50-151.50
7.80-8.30
1.19-1.50
8.35-14.50
2.95-4.90
4.63
102.50
269.93
1.43
56.73
83.44
6.02
4.53
14S.00
8.06
1.32
10.78
3.57
0.18
4.77
33.68
0.13
20. S5
12.26
0.27
0.63
1.40
0.1S
0.12
2.29
0.67
0.17
4.40
31.10
0.12
19.25
11.32
0.25
0.5S
1.29
0.17
0.11
2.11
0.61
%
3.S9
4.05
12.4S
9.09
36.75
14.69
4.4S
13.91
0.95
2.23
9.06
21.24
18.77
27-36
27-30
31.43
31.64
4.02
3.06
3.71
2.S3
12.79
9.67
Determinations
Calcium (mEq./liter)
Chloride (mEq./liter)
Cholesterol (mg./lOO ml.)
Creatinine (mg./lOO ml.)
Glucose (fasting) (mg./lOO ml.)
Glucose (nonfasting) (mg./lOO ml.)
Phosphorus (mg./lOO ml.)
Potassium (mEq./liter)
Sodium (mEq./liter)
Total protein (Gm./lOO ml.)
A/G ratio
Urea nitrogen (mg./lOO ml.)
Uric acid (mg./lOO ml.)
Serum transaminase (units)
SCOT
SGPT
* No. of animals in each sample = 7.
t t = 2.44.
TABLE S
BABOON BIOCHEMICAL SERUM VALUES (MATURE, RANDOM SEXED)*
Determinations
Calcium (mEq./liter)
Chloride (mEq./liter)
Creatinine (mg./100 ml.)
Glucose (nonfasting) (mg./lOO ml.)
Phosphorus (mg./lOO ml.)
Potassium (mEq./liter)
Sodium (mEq./liter)
Total protein (Gm./lOO ml.)
A/G ratio
Urea nitrogen (mg./lOO ml.)
Uric acid (mg./lOO ml.)
Serum transaminase (units)
SCOT
SGPT
Range of
Observations
Sampling
Mean
S.D.
3.30-5.90
102.25-115.35
0.90-1.60
78.50-157.00
4.30-8.80
3.05-4.85
137.50-145.50
4.58-6.89
0.87-1.99
3.S0-1S.10
2.13-5.43
4.20
107.37
1.28
121.29
6.97
3.82
142.41
6.32
1.41
S.57
3.35
0.73
3.65
0.22
20. SO
1.49
0.53
2.55
0.03
0.10
4.58
0.97
0.46
2.32
0.14
13.22
0.95
0.34
1.62
0.40
0.06
2.91
0.62
%
17.3S
3.40
17.19
17.15
21.3S
13.87
1.79
9.97
7.45
53.44
28.96
42-5S
19-50
51.00
33.25
5.54
7.27
3.52
4.62
10.86
21.86
Confidence Coefficient of
Limits 95%t
Variation
* No. of animals in each sample = 12.
f I = 2.20.
Grams. The diet and husbandry procedures
for this colony have been described previously.16 Stool examinations before blood
sampling showed only a few low level infestations of Prosthenorchis elegans, Strongyloides sp., and Paralriotaenia oedipomidatis.
RESULTS
In Table 2 are listed representative electronic cellular counts of the chimpanzee compared with the standard hemacytometer
reference. Figures 1 and 2 represent scatter
diagrams of the instrument counts plotted
492
Vol. 4S
BURNS ET AL.
TABLE 9
MARMOSET BIOCHEMICAL SERUM VALUES (MATURE, RANDOM SEXED)
Determination
Albumin (Gm./lOO ml.)
Calcium (mEq./liter)
Chloride (mEq./liter)
Creatinine (mg./lOO ml.)
Glucose (4 hr fasting) (mg./100 ml.)
(nonfasting) (mg./100 ml.)
Phosphorus (mg./lOO ml.)
Potassium (mEq./liter)
Sodium (mEq./liter)
Total protein (Gm./lOO ml.)
A/G ratio
Serum transaminase (units)
SCOT
SGPT
No. of
Animals in
Sample
32
34
51
11
12
13
32
45
44
46
32
Range of
Observation
(37 )f 2.01-6.30
(38)
3.60-5.00
(74) 95.40-123.60
0.25-1.90
(11)
(12) 70.20-286.50
(22) 92.40-285.50
2.26-8.94
(34)
3.44-6.67
(62)
(61) 122.20-157.00
(63)
5.64-9.42
0.16-2.42
(37)
26 (26)
13 (13)
88-238
10-38
Sampling
Mean
Confidence Coefficient
S.D. Limits
of
95%* Variation
3.71
4.40
110.90
0.66
124.30
181.10
4.82
4.86
146.80
7.20
1.11
1.01 0.32
0.41 0.14
6.07 1.39
0.47 0.33t
69.20 46.15§
59.81 27.07
1.64 0.55
0.79 0.20
7.28 1.S2
0.70 0.18
0.G3 0.20
%
27.22
9.31
5.50
71.21
55.70
33.02
34.02
10.30
5.00
9.72
56.76
143
20.20
32.80 13.59H
8.25 4.95 ||
22.93
40.84
* t = 1.90.
t No. of samples.
11 = 2.228.
§ i = 2.201.
«,[ I = 2.060.
|| I = 2.179.
against the corresponding hemacytometer
counts for the red blood cells (Fig. 1) and the
white blood cells (Fig. 2), respectively. Statistical calculations were made on the 42
samples, with the following results: for the
red cells, r = 0.977; and for the white cells,
r = 0.981. In the above, r is the correlation
coefficient having limits between 0 and 1.
The values for r for both sets of results
indicate good correlation. The red cell counts
by the instrument averaged 0.71 % higher
than those with the hemacytometer. The
white blood cell counts by the instrument
averaged 0.95 % higher than those with the
hemacytometer.
The results of the automated cellular
counts, red cell indices, and chemical constituent analyses are presented in tabular
form in Tables 3 through 9. The values for a
given test represent a normal population.
The assumption of a normal population is
based on how well the order of rank or cumulative distribution approximates a linear
line when plotted on normal probability
paper (arithmetic or logarithmic).
DISCUSSION
Data accumulated and statistically analyzed in this study demonstrate good reproducibility between the red and white blood
cell counts performed on the Coulter model
B electronic cell counter and the standard
hemacytometer reference. Close correlation
was indicated by the coefficient of correlation
for comparison of the red and white cells,
that is, 0.977 and 0.981, respectively. This
precision, coupled with the speed and simplicity of operation of this instrument, indicates that an electronic cell counter can be a
valuable addition to a busy clinical or
research laboratory.
The use of the Unopette system to replace
standard glass blood diluting pipettes greatly
increases ease and convenience of procedures,
while maintaining comparable accuracy
for erythrocyte and leukocyte counts. 11 ' 13
Freundlich and Gerarde11 have shown that
platelet counts tended to be consistently
lower than those obtained with a modification of the ammonium oxalate method; however, at the time of this study no
Nov. 1967
NOKMAL BLOOD VALUES OF LABORATORY PRIMATES
published values by any method are
currently available for the marmoset. The
establishment of standard values by a
defined and convenient procedure will allow
future comparisons among related species
and in pathologic conditions.
It will be noted that SCOT values for 0.
oedipus are usually elevated when compared
with those from chimpanzees or baboons.
Robinson and associates24 have shown that
nonspecific stresses such as capture and
handling can cause increased SGOT levels
in rhesus monkeys; however, in the rhesus
monkey the highest average value obtained
(72 units per ml.) was well below that seen
in marmosets. As the handling stress
associated with bleeding of the marmosets
was minimal to average, as compared with
usual simian handling technics, it would
appear that these values represent a normal
base line, or that this species is extremely
sensitive to handling stress.
These data may be of some extrapolative
value in relation to data in man. Conversely,
although extrapolation between species is
hazardous by hematologic criteria for man,
the primate species herein reported all
exhibited erythrocyte hypochromia. This
was not believed to be due to an iron
deficiency secondary to a low dietary level,
but to transitory incidence of intestinal
helminthiasis in the authors' animals. However, since one of the objectives was the
study of irradiation response, the danger of
exacerbating these infections to produce
pathologic effect did not permit consideration of any as nonpathogens.
The recent development of ultramicro
technics has greatly expanded the range of
research animals that can be employed for
chemical determination of various serum
constituents. Results obtained with the
ultramicro analytical system fell within the
area of detectable sensitivity of procedures
employed when compared with their working
standards. Insofar as reproducibility is concerned, we believe the ranges observed for
blood constituents in laboratory animals reflect the composite influence of normal physiologic variations plus analytical and instrumental error in order of their effects.
493
SUMMARY
A compendium of normal blood values for
chimpanzees, baboons, and marmosets is
presented in the form of quantitative and
descriptive tables for convenience in biomedical evaluation studies. Certain blood
physical properties, general chemical components, and hematologic elements associated with the physiology of defined laboratory primates are tabulated. The data were
obtained through the use of macro, ultramicro, and automated technics which demonstrated their utility and reliability in the
handling of minute amounts of blood of
laboratory primates.
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