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After translocation into the vaginal vault while attached to a pedicle consisting of the infundibulo-pelvic ligament, the ovary was found to maintain its function in laboratory primates. In the majority of the baboons the ovulatory pattern returned within a few weeks after the surgical procedure. The only significant complication was a transitory, and self-limited, infection which was evident on inspection and on the biopsy specimens, but caused no clinical symptoms. By comparing the surgical outcome in two primate species, namely Papio Cynocephalus and Macaca Arctoides, it could be deduced that the Homo Sapiens would be a more suitable experimental model than either of the laboratory primates used in this research. Because there are potentially effective methods for reducing the likelihood of postoperative infection in the relocated ovary, the experience gained by this new method suggests the possibility that it could be utilized in the future for the purpose of collecting ova for in vitro fertilization in carefully selected, and otherwise untreatable, cases of female sterility.

Experimental data indicate that the time and mechanism of ovulation play a significant role in some cases of infertility and in a broad range of reproductive abnormalities. In order to establish a new experimental model for the study of these phenomena in primates, transposition of the ovary from the pelvis into the vaginal fornix was attempted in 2 species of monkeys: (a) Macaca Arctoides and (b) Papio Cynocephalus. Particularly in the latter species, ovarian relocation into the anterior and the posterior vaginal fornices proved feasible. Most ovaries continued functioning in their new location during the 2-5 months of the follow-up, despite macroscopic and microscopic evidence of infection. Post mortem examination of one of the experimental animals several years after the surgical procedure revealed the presence of an intact functioning ovary still in close contact with the vaginal fornix.

Two tuberculin-positive baboons in a primate colony were found to have grossly visible tuberculous lesions in the liver, spleen, lung, and mediastinal lymph nodes on necropsy. Results of histopathologic examination of the tissues showed granulomas with Langhans giant cells. An acid-fast organism was isolated from tissues of each baboon; the isolates were identified as Mycobacterium bovis by being negative for niacin production and nitrate reduction and by their susceptibility to thiophen-2-carbosylic acid hydrazide and to 5% glycerol.

A case of malignant nephroblastoma was identified in a 4.5-month-old female Macaca fascicularis. The age of onset, clinical history, gross and microscopic pathology, and the pulmonary metastasis were analogous to this condition as seen in man.

Twenty-one of 24 simian primates with acute gastric dilatation had Clostridium perfringens in their gastric contents. Only 2 of 18 normal animals contained this organism in their gastric contents. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from monkey biscuits taken from the cages of five affected animals and from five of 11 incoming lots of feed. After these biscuits were fed to normal animals, this organism could be isolated from the gastric contents. There were no other organisms isolated which could account for the voluminous gas production in this condition.

Intraocular granulomas associated with tuberculosis were observed in 2 subhuman primates (Ateles geoffroyi and Macaca mulatta). Bacterial cultures from lung tissues at the time of necropsy confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium bovis and M tuberculosis, respectively. The absence of generalized clinical signs in spite of systemic dissemination of the organisms in these cases and the public health significance of tuberculous infections emphasize the importance of proper observation and diagnostic procedures in primate colonies and display collections.

Plasmodium inui malaria is an infrequently reported disease of Macaca mulatta. In this report a total of 21 of 48 monkeys in a closed colony of diabetic animals developed hematological evidence of P. inui infection with five showing overt clinical signs of the disease. Diagnosis was confirmed morphologically, serologically and by transmission studies. Since six of these animals were born in the colony, a means of transmission was sought and it was determined that multiple use of a syringe to administer intravenous anesthesia was the probable means of cross transmission.

During the last 5 days of gestation, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated daily with SC diazepam (DZ) injections (average dose 6 mg/kg of body weight). The control pregnant rats were treated with corresponding volumes of the vehicle. The progenies were examined for the occurrence of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions for up to 20 months. Although there were no early postnatal effects of DZ, 13 neoplasms developed in the 52 DZ-exposed rats (12 mammary fibroadenomas and one uterine sarcoma), while there were not such lesions in 44 control rats (p less than 0.001, Fisher's exact test). The non-neoplastic lesions in the DZ-exposed group, such as infections, arteriosclerosis etc., were also significantly greater in magnitude and incidence, compared to control animals (p = 0.007, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test). Also, the DZ-exposed rats had a significantly lower titre of the plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG), higher levels of white blood cells and lower hematocrit values than the control animals. DZ is known to bind with high affinity to both central nervous system and non-neuronal receptors present in peripheral organs and blood cells, such as monocytes. The monocyte receptors appear to be critical for chemotaxis induced by many agents affecting the normal function of the immune system including antineoplastic defense. We have previously shown that prenatal DZ suppresses ontogenesis of brain benzodiazepine receptors as tested in adult 12 months old cat and rat progenies. If the ontogenesis of "peripheral" receptors is also suppressed, this would provide a plausible explanation for teratogenic effect of DZ.