Salivary response of Geoffroy's spider monkeys (<i>Ateles geoffroyi</i>) to consumption of plant secondary metabolites.

ABSTRACT: Geoffroy's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) can modulate the acidity-alkalinity (pH) and salivary expression of total proteins (TP) and proline-rich proteins (PRPs) depending on the concentration of tannins in their diet, helping to counteract negative post-ingestive effects. Besides tannins, plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites like flavonoids and alkaloids that elicit a bitter taste. Geoffroy's spider monkeys feed on various plant species and consume different concentrations of secondary metabolites. However, it is unclear whether there is salivary modulation of pH, TP, and PRPs to secondary metabolites other than tannins, or whether this effect also occurs towards bitter substances not associated with secondary metabolites. Therefore, we assessed if there are c

SUBMITTER: Ramirez-Torres CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12147766 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature