Effect of companions in modulating stress associated with new group formation in juvenile rhesus macaques

To determine if the presence of one or more familiar peers buffers the physiological effect of a stressor, 10 juvenile rhesus monkeys were removed from their natal group and placed together to form a new peer group. Six of the 10 juveniles were from the natal group of one or more others (companion subjects) whereas four juveniles came from entirely separate natal groups (alone subjects). Moreover, six matched juveniles remained in their natal group serving as controls. Two baseline blood samples were collected from all subjects, and then at 24 h, 1 week, and 4 weeks following the peer group formation. There was a significant interaction among the three study groups and sample times for absolute numbers of helper/inducer T lymphocytes, suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes, but not cortisol concentrations. Planned post hoc comparisons found that subjects introduced to the peer group, both those alone and those with companion(s), showed a significantly greater decline from baseline in lymphocyte subsets 24 h later compared to control subjects. It is of note that the alone subjects showed a significantly greater percent decline from baseline in helper/inducer T lymphocytes than companion subjects at 24 h, but not in suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes or B lymphocytes. Planned post hoc comparisons for cortisol found that alone subjects showed significantly higher cortisol concentrations than those,subjects with a companion only at the 1-week sample point. Proximity accounted for a significant portion of the variation (R = 0.66) in percent change in helper/inducer T lymphocytes at 24 h and this was a result of the companion subjects staying together. Results of this study confirm the stressful effect of removal from the natal group to a new social situation in juvenile rhesus monkeys and also adds to the growing body of human and nonhuman primate literature that the presence of companions can modulate the physiological effects of a stressor.