The Effects of Four Types of Restraint on Serum Alanine Aminotransferase and Aspartate Aminotransferase in the Macaca fascicularis

Abstract

To determine the effect of restraint on selected clinical laboratory parameters, cynomolgus monkeys were continuously restrained for 60 and 120 minutes in a restraining box, a restraint chair, and on a restraining board. Animals were also hand caught for manual restraint. Blood samples were collected at 11 time points over 168 hours and evaluated with a standard clinical chemistry profile. Only aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were statistically evaluated; no overt changes were noted in any other parameter. Significant differences between the enzyme levels of different restraint methods were not seen during the 60-min restraint studies, but were present during the 120-min restraint duration. For AST, chair and board restraint resulted in lower and higher enzyme levels, respectively, than the other methods. Levels of ALT for board restraint were significantly higher when compared with other methods. For both the 60-and 120-min restraint periods, AST values that were significantly elevated when compared with baseline were common at 4, 6, and 24 h. Significant ALT increases, when compared with baseline, occurred primarily at 6, 24, and 48 h. The results indicate that over time, restraint methods alone can affect AST and ALT levels in cynomolgus monkeys.