New world primates for research in human reproductive health

The New World primates are relatively new to studies in reproductive health. The essential factors in their reproductive physiology and endocrinology are now established for the three species considered here: Saimiri sciureus, Cebus apella, and Callithrix jacchus. Our studies to date in C. jacchus have concentrated on developmental biology (gametogenesis, fertilization, implantation, neonatal growth) and on strategic studies of new pharmacological agents for the regulation of fertility (vaccines, steroids, lactation). There are also species-specific mechanisms evident, such as reproductive suppression in female marmosets, that give insights to the evolution of reproductive mechanisms in the primates.