Baseline Serum Clinical Chemistry Values in African Green Monkeys Before and After Sulfur Mustard

Clinical blood chemistry constituents were examined in African green monkeys (AGMs) exposed iv to sulfur mustard (HD). Normal cell count and blood chemistry parameters were established in male AGMs (N=49), with a weight of 4-7 kg, via 2.0-ml blood samples collected twice a week for three weeks. Seven randomly chosen background AGMs were challenged with a 1.0-mg/kg iv injection of HD. A 1.5-ml blood sample was obtained preexposure and analyzed; subsequent 1.5-m1 blood draws were performed 3-4 times a week for 30 days after HD exposure. Blood chemistry analyses showed significant (P0.05) increases in alanine transaminase (93 %), aspartate transaminase (189 %), blood urea nitrogen (75 %), creatine kinase (721 %), and lactate dehydrogenase (114 %) one day after HD exposure. These same chemistry parameters, between days 7 and 16, exhibited a biphasic pattern with a second peak occurring at 32, 101, 75, 330, and 94 %, respectively. Analysis also showed significant decreases in albumin, total protein, and calcium levels. Clinically, the overall changes are indicative of cellular injury to smooth muscle, which was supported by gross findings. Overall, this baseline data broadens the available information on AGM models and can serve as an index for future HD AGM studies. The original document contains color images.