Kohn 2015 Abstract MiPschool Cape Town 2015

Are Cape Peninsula baboons raiding their way to obesity and type II diabetes?

Link:

Kohn T (2015)

Event: MiPschool Cape Town 2015

Over indulgence on a diet rich in processed carbohydrate and fat has been associated with obesity and type II diabetes [1]. This highly palatable diet and its abundant availability have since been discovered by the chachma baboons (Papio ursinus) residing on the Cape Peninsula, mostly from direct contact with humans. However, nature conservation has since indicated that these animals appear overweight, are lethargic and present with ill health (hair and teeth loss) [2].

This study therefore aimed to provide evidence that these baboons may be at risk of developing insulin resistance.

Carcasses of ten adult male baboons from the Cape Peninsula (urban) and 6 from the rural countryside (no access to processed food) were donated towards this study. Body composition was determined using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Muscle samples from the vastus lateralis were analysed for insulin response substrate-1 (IRS-1) and citrate synthase (CS) activity [3,4].

Urban baboons were larger than the rural group, but similar total body fat % (12±2% for both). CS activity, a marker of oxidative capacity in muscle, was higher in rural baboons (urban vs. control: 4.2±0.9 vs. 5.4±0.9 μmol min^-1 g^-1 wet weight, P.

Labels: MiParea: mt-Medicine  Pathology: Diabetes 

Organism: Other mammals 

(Katz, 2014) Drewe et al., 2012 Kohn et al., 2007; Shao et al., 2002