Predictors of social status in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) after group formation

Drake Morgan · Kathleen A. Grant · Osric A. Prioleau · Susan H. Nader · Jay R. Kaplan · Michael A. Nader

105 citations0/0 files storedAmerican Journal of Primatology

No readable copy stored yet — this record is metadata only.

No open-access location is known for this record yet.

Literature note Cite in a project Citation map

Primate Behavior and Ecology Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies Stress Responses and Cortisol

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether various behavioral and hormonal markers obtained in individually housed monkeys would be predictive of social rank following group housing. Body weight, serum cortisol and testosterone levels, and locomotor activity in an open-field apparatus were examined in 20 experimentally naive male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) while they were individually housed. It was hypothesized that eventual subordinate monkeys would have higher cortisol levels and increased locomotor activity scores. These monkeys were then placed in social groups of four (five pens of four monkeys), and social rank was determined based on outcomes of dyadic agonistic encounters. Body weight correlated significantly with eventual social rank. In general, the heavier the monkey the higher the social rank. Locomotor activity in an open-field apparatus following administration of a low dose of cocaine (0.01 mg/kg, i.v.), which has been shown to increase CNS dopamine, correlated with eventual social rank such that individually housed monkeys with high levels of locomotion were more likely to become subordinate. Serum cortisol and testosterone levels failed to correlate with eventual social rank. Hypothalamic-pituitary feedback sensitivity and adrenal responsiveness were examined by measuring cortisol levels after administration of dexamethasone and following ACTH challenge. Cortisol responses in these tests were not associated with eventual social rank. These results suggest that, in addition to body weight, the level of reactivity in a novel environment after administration of a low dose of cocaine is a potential trait marker for social rank. This trait is apparently not associated with hormone levels, but may involve other CNS mechanisms.

Paper brief

Loading…

Cite this work

Citation unavailable for this work.

BibTeX RIS CSL-JSON

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Citations in this library

Citation map →

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 105 citations exist upstream.

References

1974Observational Study of Behavior: Sampling Methods 1971Plasma Testosterone, Dominance Rank and Aggressive Behaviour in Male Rhesus Monkeys 1994Primate social conflict 1972Plasma Testosterone Levels in the Male Rhesus: Influences of Sexual and Social Stimuli 1996Stability of interindividual differences in serotonin function and its relationship to severe aggression and competent social behavior in Rhesus Macaque females 1975Consequences of Social Conflict on Plasma Testosterone Levels in Rhesus Monkeys 1978The physiological response to group formation in adult male squirrel monkeys 1974Aggression and Social Controls in Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) Groups Revealed in Group Formation Studies

Cited by

2002Seasonal variation and social correlates of androgen excretion in male redfronted lemurs ( Eulemur fulvus rufus )

Explore the map →

Papers that cite the same references — the relational fallback while embeddings are still backfilling.

Imported from OpenAlex (CC0) — nothing here is generated.