Ratio of leptin to adiponectin as an obesity index of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Obesity is responsible for inducing various metabolic diseases. Laboratory-bred cynomolgus monkeys exhibit spontaneous onset of obesity. However, to date, no blood chemistry index to identify the state of obesity in cynomolgus monkeys has been determined. In the present study, to determine such an index, we measured the serum levels of two adipocyte-derived hormones, leptin and adiponectin, and evaluated the relationship between these hormones and other serum energy metabolic factors (i.e. insulin, total protein, glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride) as well as the percentage of body fat (%Fat) in mature cynomolgus monkeys. Both in females and males, leptin was positively correlated with insulin and %Fat, and adiponectin was negatively correlated with insulin and %Fat. In female cynomolgus monkeys, leptin, adiponectin, and glucose were selected as the most important determinants for %Fat in multiple regression analysis, and in male cynomolgus monkeys, leptin was selected. The ratio of leptin to adiponectin (L/A ratio) was significantly elevated in the animals with %Fat over 40 (P < 0.01). The results indicate that L/A ratio is a potential index for comprehensively identifying obesity in cynomolgus monkeys.