The squirrel monkey: an animal model of pelvic relaxation. 1995

K W Coates, and H L Galan, and B L Shull, and T J Kuehl
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Scott and White Clinic, Temple, TX 76508.

OBJECTIVE Casual observations of pelvic prolapse have previously been made in adult female squirrel monkeys. We objectively observed and described the pelvic findings of the adult females in our colony to evaluate their potential as an animal model for studies of pelvic relaxation. METHODS Subsets of a group of 28 adult female squirrel monkeys were examined on three separate occasions and photographed to document perineal findings. Four areas of loss of support in the vagina were described, including the urethra, anterior segment, cervix, and posterior segment. The degree of loss of support at each specific site was documented. Also, three measurements were obtained from each animal, including the distance from the base of the clitoris to the posterior edge of the perineal body and the length and width of the introitus. The length of the perineal body was calculated. RESULTS Fifty percent of the animals had at least one site of pelvic prolapse at rest or on straining. With straining 50% had urethral prolapse, 21% had anterior segment prolapse, and 11% had posterior segment prolapse. None of the animals had evidence of cervical prolapse. Of the animals with findings of pelvic relaxation, 43% had combined prolapse at two or more sites. Of the measurements obtained, only the width of the introitus was significantly different between the group of normal animals and those found to have pelvic prolapse (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS On the basis of observations of our colony of squirrel monkeys, a significant number of animals demonstrated findings of pelvic support loss with defects similar to those observed in humans. Although limitations to some techniques of evaluation and surgical intervention exist, the squirrel monkey is an animal model that may provide new opportunities for basic investigation of the pathophysiologic features and the management of pelvic relaxation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011391 Prolapse The protrusion of an organ or part of an organ into a natural or artificial orifice. Prolapses
D004195 Disease Models, Animal Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases. Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012453 Saimiri A genus of the family CEBIDAE consisting of four species: S. boliviensis, S. orstedii (red-backed squirrel monkey), S. sciureus (common squirrel monkey), and S. ustus. They inhabit tropical rain forests in Central and South America. S. sciureus is used extensively in research studies. Monkey, Squirrel,Squirrel Monkey,Monkeys, Squirrel,Saimirus,Squirrel Monkeys
D014522 Urethral Diseases Pathological processes involving the URETHRA. Disease, Urethral,Diseases, Urethral,Urethral Disease
D014596 Uterine Prolapse Downward displacement of the UTERUS. It is classified in various degrees: in the first degree the UTERINE CERVIX is within the vaginal orifice; in the second degree the cervix is outside the orifice; in the third degree the entire uterus is outside the orifice. Vaginal Prolapse,Prolapse, Uterine,Prolapse, Vaginal,Prolapses, Uterine,Prolapses, Vaginal,Uterine Prolapses,Vaginal Prolapses
D014621 Vagina The genital canal in the female, extending from the UTERUS to the VULVA. (Stedman, 25th ed) Vaginas
D014844 Vulva The external genitalia of the female. It includes the CLITORIS, the labia, the vestibule, and its glands. Vulvas

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