Relationship between carcass weight and organ weight of cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The relationship between carcass weight and organ weight of rainbow trout was investigated in 2 replicates using a total of 300 trout of a Danish population. Within replicates, the trout were of approximately the same age. Absolute organ weights increased with increasing carcass weight while their weights as a proportion of carcass weight decreased. Heart and liver weight were highly correlated with carcass weight (.61-.81 and .86-.87, respectively), while the correlation between spleen and carcass weight was moderate (.29-.54). The coefficients of regression for organ weights on carcass weight were consistent between the two replicates. The regression of liver weight on carcass weight of 20 mg/g was about 10-times larger than that for spleen weight and 20-times larger than the regression of heart weight on carcass weight. In a separate multiple regression analysis it was estimated that 70% to 84% of the variance in carcass weight could be explained by variance of organ weights with the main effect (86 %-99%) due to variances in liver weight. Correlation and regression coefficients between relative organ weights and carcass weight were quite variable. The impact of autocorrelation regarding these results is discussed.     

不同周龄SD大鼠脏器重量及其变化趋势分析

目的分析不同周龄SD大鼠的脏器重量及其变化趋势,为评判药物毒性反应提供理论参考。方法分别选取试验第13、26、52、78和104周对照组动物脑、脾脏、心脏、肺脏、肝脏、肾脏、肾上腺、睾丸、卵巢的重量数据并分析。结果从13～104周SD雌鼠脑、脾脏、心脏、肺脏、肝脏、肾脏、肾上腺、卵巢的重量呈升高趋势。从13～104周SD雄鼠脑、脾脏、心脏、肺脏、肝脏、肾脏重量均重于雌鼠,但雌鼠肾上腺重量、脏体比和脏脑比均显著高于雄鼠。结论本研究首次在国内建立了符合我国实验动物现状的,不同周龄SD大鼠的脏器重量背景数据和参考值范围,并分析了不同周龄SD大鼠脏器重量变化趋势。     

Maturing patterns of organ weights in mice selected for rapid postweaning gain

Summary Correlated responses to selection for increased 3–6 week postweaning gain in male mice were estimated for seven internal organs (testes, spleen, liver, kidneys, heart, small intestine (S intest) and stomach) weighed at specific degrees of maturity in body weight (37.5, 50.0, 62.5, 75.0, 87.5 and 100%). Correlated responses in organ weights were generally large, but the magnitude and direction of response depended upon whether 1) comparisons were made at the same age, degree of maturity or body weight and 2) absolute or proportional organ weights were used. The selected line (M16) weighed more and had larger organ weights than controls (ICR) when compared at either the same degree of maturity or the same age, indicating positive genetic correlations between body weight and the respective organ weights. Positive correlated responses were found in spleen weight/body weight at all degrees of maturity and in liver and S intest weights as a proportion of body weight at some degrees of maturity. Testes, kidneys, heart and stomach weights as a proportion of body weight had negative correlated responses, though this was consistent only for kidneys across all degrees of maturity. Correlated responses in organ weights adjusted for body weight by covariance analysis were positive for spleen, S intest and stomach and negative for testes and kidneys. Based on the constrained quadratic model, degree of maturity in organ weight relative to degree of maturity in body weight responded positively for testes, kidneys and S intest and negatively for spleen and liver. Selection for increased growth caused negative correlated responses in allometric growth of testes, kidneys, S intest and stomach.Paper No. 10,545 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, 27695-7601. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned     

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF NESTLING HOUSE MARTINS DELICHON URBICA

Growth of nestling House Martins was studied in relation to (a) conditions in the external environment and (b) aspects of their breeding biology. The dependence of growth performance on (1) hatchling weights, (2) relative difference in hatchling weights within broods, (3) brood size,(4) season, (5) earliness of breeding in relation to other pairs in the colony, (6) timing of breeding in relation to the median breeding week of the colony and (7) aerial food abundance, was investigated by step-down multiple regression analysis. Up to the stage of the peak brood weight, early laying, small brood sizes and high hatchling weights were associated with higher nestling growth rates. Large relative differences in hatchling weights however tended to depress mean brood weights and increase weight differences (= size hierarchies) within broods. These differences in hatchling weights were considered to contribute significantly to 23% of all nestling deaths, because small, late hatching nestlings suffered very high mortality even when food was abundant. The nestlings which died showed a progressive reduction on growth rates and all succumbed before the 11th nestling day. Because these differences in hatchling weights can be linked to the food supply during laying rather than immediately prior to their death, it is considered that the mortality of these nestlings can ultimately be attributed to the low quality of eggs from which they hatched. There was a tendency for pre-hatching factors to diminish in importance throughout growth, while post-hatching factors increased in importance and, with one exception, were responsible for explaining all the significant variance in the growth characteristics of fledglings. The exception was that differences in wing-lengths in broods could be linked with weight differences at hatching. Food shortages lowered average brood weights prior to fledging. Because pairs breeding during the median breeding week had lighter young, it was inferred that competition for food during this peak of breeding activity had the effect of lowering nestling growth performance, although the overall effect was considered to be small. Early breeding pairs tended to have larger broods, and these large broods showed a lowered growth performance. However, early breeding pairs had relatively smaller weight and wing-length differences, in broods of a given size, than occurred in broods of late breeders. It was therefore concluded that early breeding pairs had some attribute which tended to minimize certain disadvantages of large broods. This effect appeared to be linked to the pair, rather than to season or food supply.     

洞庭湖区社鼠脏器重量的比较

对洞庭湖区社鼠(Niviventer confucianus)野外自然种群脏器的重量指标进行了测定,并比较了其在年龄组、性别、季节及生境间的差异。结果表明,社鼠内脏(心、肺、肝、脾、肾脏)随着年龄组的增加,重量有明显的增加,其重量与体重有极其显著的相关性。两性间的脏器重量指标没有显著性差异。脏器季节变化的共同特征是夏季脏器重量较低,四季间比较,仅有心脏重量有显著的季节变化。生境间心脏和肾脏重量的变化相对较大,达显著水平。参与繁殖与未参与繁殖的雌鼠相比,心、肺、肝、肾脏的各项指标均较高,脾脏则相反,但均未有显著性差异。总的来看,洞庭湖社鼠种群的脏器指标相对稳定,尽管重量指标随着年龄组而增加,受性别、季节、生境及繁殖行为的影响相对较小。     

The relationship between organ weights and body weights, facial dimensions, and dental dimensions in a population of olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis)

Questions concerned with the relationship between organ weights and body weight on an intraspecific level are best answered by using a sample of animals collected in the wild from a single locale during a single season. The organ weights and body weights for this study were obtained from the necropsy reports prepared in the field (Athi Plain, Kenya) by H. C. McGill, Jr. on 36 adult animals (18 males and 18 females). Dental and facial measurements were taken by M.I. Siegel. In order to avoid erroneous results produced by statistical treatment of combined sex samples of sexually dimorphic species, data on the sexes were analyzed separately. Means and standard deviations are reported for selected organ weights and body dimensions (heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal, brain, and pancreas weights, crown–rump length, crown–heel length, head circumference, chest circumference, and body weight). All of the above measures were significantly (p<0.05) different between the sexes. Logarithms of these measures were significantly correlated with the logarithm of body weight in males for heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, and adrenal weights, crown–heel length, and head and chest circumference, and in females for crown–heel length, heart, liver, and kidney weights. Partial correlational analysis, removing the effects of body size (weight), showed mostly negative correlational relationships between dental and visceral dimensions. Most of the correlations between facial and visceral dimensions were negative. Allometric equations were calculated for the dental, facial, and visceral dimensions versus body weight, and are compared with prior published results.     

Changes in food intake and growth rate in mice under hypergravity.

Mice exposed to hypergravity, especially soon after start of exposure, diminished the body weight and the food intake. The amount of food intake was kept less than that of the ground control during hypergravity breeding for 2 weeks. Furthermore, the weight of testis relative to the body weight increased compared to that of 1 G control although the relative weights of liver and kidney were not changed. The purpose of this study was whether the low growth rate of the body weight and the increase of the relative testis weight were induced by the decrease of the food intake under hypergravity. We divided 3 weeks old male mice to 3 groups; the 1 G (ground control), the food restricted (FR) under 1 G, and the 3 G group. The 3 G group bred for 2 weeks under the centrifuge at 3 G. The FR group was given the same amount of food as the group ate. The changes in the body weight and the relative weights of testis, spleen and seminal vesicle of the FR group were similar to those of the 3 G group. The hunger test revealed that only the FR group was hunger. Our results suggested that the decrease of the food intake both in response to hypergravity and the food restriction induced the decrease of the body weight but the increase of the relative testis weight.     

Antitumor activity with nontoxic doses of protein A

Summary This report confirms our previous observation that IV inoculation of purified protein A causes regression of rat mammary adenocarcinomas. In treated tumors, we have obtained histological evidence of changes indicating tumor cell destruction. Protein A treatment does not cause reduction in the body weight or organ weights of rats; nor does it cause any decrease in activity of the enzymes of the microsomal mixed function oxidase system in the liver. Protein A stimulates peripheral white cell counts in normal rats, but not in tumor-bearing rats. We found that protein A infusion reduced (P<0.0005) the level of circulating plasma immune complex concentration. A homing study with ¹²⁵I-labeled protein A indicated that liver, spleen, and kidney tissues are the major sites of protein A accumulation. Therefore, protein A seemed to exert its antitumor effects without causing any generalized toxicity to the system. It is postulated that the action of protein A may be related to its ability to cause a drastic reduction in circulating plasma immune complex concentration, thus potentiating the immune reactivity of the host observed earlier.     

Growth-stimulating effects of somatomedin-/insulin-like peptides in Snell dwarf mice

The effect of the somatomedin-/insulin-like growth factors IGF-I, IGF-II and N2, as well as of semi-purified SM fractions separated by isoelectric focusing derived from human Cohn IV on different growth parameters, have been studied in the Snell dwarf mouse. HPLC-pure IGF-II, N2 and IGF-I stimulate to a similar extent the sulphate incorporation into costal cartilage, the osteochondral junction and epiphyseal cartilage. After 4 weeks of treatment, increase in body length and weight as well as the weights of several organs is obtained with SM fractions, focusing at acid and neutral pH, and containing mainly IGF-II- and less than 5% IGF-I-like peptides. Fractions containing mainly IGF-I-like peptides and focusing at basic pH at the dosage used seem to be less stimulatory on most of these parameters. The rump/tail ratio and weight/length ratio is comparable to that obtained after treatment with human growth hormone (hGH). hGH induced a significant stimulation of the weight of the liver, kidneys, heart, thymus and spleen. The acid and neutral SM fractions induced growth of the liver, kidneys and spleen. The basic fractions only produced a significant weight gain in kidneys and spleen. The skinfold thickness is stimulated by the SM preparations and only slightly by hGH.     

SD大鼠主要脏器间的相关性分析

目的测定成年SD大鼠体重与各脏器重量,并对不同脏器之间及体重与各脏器重量的相关性进行分析。方法选用三月龄SD大鼠雄性共24只,进行人道处死,解剖后分别测定心、肝、肺、肾等脏器重量,并作相关性分析。结果 SD大鼠的心、肝、肺、脾、肾与胃空体的相关性分析中,SD大鼠的心脏及肝脏重量之间不相关(P>0.05),且分别与其他各脏器及胃空体之间也无明显相关(P>0.05);而脾脏的重量与肾脏重量之间则相关极为显著(P<0.01);胃空体与肺、脾呈现极显著相关(P<0.01),与肾脏呈显著相关(P<0.05)。结论通过解剖比较SD大鼠各脏器之间的关系,对动物体内各脏器的大小及相互关系有了初步的认知,为今后进行的动物相关实验研究打下基础。     

Splenic weights and their possible relationship to adrenocortical function in a wild population of Rousettus aegyptiacus E. Geoffroy

The spleen weights increase with age in Rousettus aegyptiacus for the first 6 months. The size of the adrenal cortex estimated by adrenal weight behaves in a similar way as the spleen weights. The spleen weights decline as the bats mature while the adrenal weights continue to increase with age. Both the spleen and adrenal weights are variable in pregnant bats. The pregnant animals have heavy adrenals and small spleens on average. Since the pregnant bats are heavy, their relative spleen and adrenal weights are different from the absolute weights, but more so in the latter than in the former. The spleen in Rousettus responds to stressful environments differently from the way it does in rodents under similar situations.     

Body burden of hexachlorbenzene in suckling rats and its effects on various organs and on liver porphyrin accumulation.

The hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and porphyrin accumulation in the ograns of 18-day-old Wistar rats, whose mothers were fed a diet containing 80 ppm HCB, were studied. Among the organs examined, the highest HCB residue was in the liver larger than kidney larger than or equal to lung larger than brain larger than spleen larger than heart. The porphyrin level in the liver of the HCB-treated. On the contrary, the weights of the kidney, brain, spleen and heart were significantly reduced. Sex did not influence the organ weight except that of the brain. The results suggested that accumulation of HCB in different organs and porphyrin in the liver of suckling Wistar rats was about equal for the males and females.     

Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig

Small size at birth has been associated with an increased risk of central obesity and reduced lean body mass in adult life. This study investigated the time of onset of prenatally induced obesity, which occurs after maternal feed restriction, in the guinea pig, a species that, like the human, develops substantial adipose tissue stores before birth. We examined the effect of maternal feed restriction [70% ad libitum intake from 4 wk before to midpregnancy, then 90% until day 60 gestation (term approximately 69 days)] on fetal growth and body composition in the guinea pig. Maternal feed restriction reduced fetal (-39%) and placental (-30%) weight at 60 days gestation and reduced liver, biceps muscle, spleen, and thymus weights, relative to fetal weight, while relative weights of brain, lungs, and interscapular and retroperitoneal fat pads were increased. In the interscapular depot, maternal feed restriction decreased the volume density of multilocular fat and increased that of unilocular fat, resulting in an increased relative weight of interscapular unilocular fat. Maternal feed restriction did not alter the relative weight of perirenal fat or the volume density of adipocyte populations within the depot but increased unilocular lipid locule size. Maternal feed restriction in the guinea pig is associated with decreased weight of major organs, including liver and skeletal muscle, but increased adiposity of the fetus, with relative sparing of unilocular adipose tissue. If this early-onset obesity persists, it may contribute to the metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction that these offspring of feed-restricted mothers develop as adults.     

Recovery growth following periods of restricted rations and starvation in rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Fingerling rainbow trout (6.9 to 11.6 cm fork length) maintained at 12° C were either: fed restricted rations (3% of dry body weight/day) for 16 weeks, or starved for 3 weeks (14.5% weight loss), or for 13 weeks (32.5% weight loss). Whole body wet weights and dry weights (as % of wet weight), and wet and dry weights of tissues (heart, spleen, liver, skin, gonad, gut, visceral fat, and 'carcase') resulting from these treatments were compared to corresponding weights of an 'initial sample'. Visceral fat was completely utilized during both short and long-term starvation and gut was significantly reduced in the extended starvation group.
During subsequent recovery growth on full rations, following food deprivation, fish grew at approximately the same rate as fully-fed controls, which had not suffered food deprivation, as regards body wet weight and condition ( K ), but tended to surpass controls in % dry weight.
Heart, liver, gonad, gut and visceral fat also increased during recovery growth in a manner suggestive of overcompensation in response to former food deprivation. Gut, skin and carcase dry weights were less in the control, and in the 14.5% weight loss groups following recovery growth than in those in 3% rations and in the severely starved group, indicating that the effects of slow growth resulting from limited rations resemble those of severe starvation more than those of limited starvation.     

Annual cycle in female minnows Phoxinus phoxinus (L.) from an upland Welsh lake

A population of Phoxinus phoxinus in a small, upland, Welsh lake was sampled at monthly intervals between February 1976 and January 1977. Mature females belonged to the 1972, 1973 and 1974 year classes. Spawning took place in May and June over gravel at the lake's edge. Regression analysis provided estimates of the mean carcase, ovary and liver weights expected for a female of length 65 mm. The ovarian weight increased rapidly in spring but dropped sharply between May and August. Carcase and liver weight declined during the breeding season, but recovered rapidly on completion of breeding. The increase in the weight of the ovary was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of dry matter, while the carcase and liver became relatively hydrated during the breeding season. Also at this time, the energy and lipid content of the carcase was low, but the ash content was high. Thus ovarian maturation and breeding were associated with a depletion of the carcase and liver, but this was quickly reversed at the end of the breeding season. Preliminary estimates of the changes in total energy in the ovary and carcase during ovarian maturation were made which suggested that the decline in the energy content of the carcase represented a significant proportion of the gain in energy content of the ovary. The sampling period coincided with an unusually severe drought and the possible consequences of this on the population are considered.     

Effects of age and photoperiod on reproduction and the spleen in the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris)

To examine the interactions between age and photoperiod on reproduction and spleen weights, we exposed adult male and female rice rats of various ages to photoperiods of 16:8-h light-dark photoperiods (16L:8D) or 12L:12D. After 10 wk, animals were killed and the following data were recorded: weights of testes, seminal vesicles, uterus, ovaries, body, and spleen and, in addition, vaginal patency. Young adult males displayed a greater degree of testicular and seminal vesicle regression in short photoperiods than did older males; the testes of most older males did not regress in response to short photoperiods. Spleen weight was unresponsive to short photoperiods in all males, but was affected by age. Females, however, exhibited reproductive organ regression and decreased vaginal patency in response to short photoperiods at all ages examined. Body weights were affected by photoperiod in young females, and, as in males, photoperiod had no effect on spleen weights. These data suggest that the reproductive response to photoperiod in adult male rice rats declines with age, whereas in adult females it does not.     

Studies on organ weights in naproxen treated rats after intermittent exposure to simulated high altitude

Rats were exposed intermittently for 8h per day over 6 days at simulated high altitude of 20 000 feet. One group of altitude-exposed animals was treated with naproxen, a prostaglandin inhibiting drug. Significant reduction in body weight gain was observed in both altitude-exposed and drug-treated altitude-exposed animals compared to the control group. Right and left ventricular weights and weights of the adrenal glands were increased significantly in altitude-exposed and altitude-exposed drug-treated animals. The weight of the spleen was increased significantly in altitude-exposed animals whereas no such increase of splenic weight was observed in drug-treated altitude-exposed group of animals. On the other hand, the weight of the liver was decreased significantly in both cases. In drug-treated altitude-exposed animals, the unaltered splenic weight was thought to be due to inhibition of the erythropoietic activity.     

The posthatch physiology of the turkey poult--I. Growth and development

Daily body, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas and bursa of Fabricius weights of developing turkey poults were measured. Neither organ nor body weight was affected by sex of the poults during the first 10 days posthatch. Decreases in growth were apparent between days 3 and 6 or 7 and 9 posthatch and coincided with peaks in early mortality.     

板齿鼠内脏器官的重量和含水量的季节变化

本文研究板齿鼠部分内脏器官的鲜重、相对重量（脏器指数）和含水量的季节变化.结果表明：板齿鼠肝、心、脾、肾脏指数存在季节性变化,同时肝脏指数存在年龄和性别差异;脾脏指数与体重呈正相关,肝、肾脏指数与体重呈负相关;脏器水分含量只有肝和心脏存在季节性差异,但不存在年龄和性别差异.说明季节因素对不同脏器指数影响不同.     

Empirical evidence of a trade-off between reproductive effort and expectation of future reproduction in female three-spined sticklebacks

Optimal life-history models generally predict that the reproductive effort of iteroparous organisms may increase with age, as their expectation of future reproduction decreases. The population of three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in the Camargue (Rhone River Delta, France) is annual, all adults dying after their first breeding season. As the three-spined stickleback is a multiple spawner, we tested the hypothesis that reproductive effort may increase during the breeding season on field data. From 1987 to 1998, 653 female sticklebacks were collected in the field during the breeding seasons. The body size, body weight and weights of the liver, gonads and carcass were measured for these individuals. Only gravid females with mature eggs (176 fish) were included in the analysis. Considering the female three-spined stickleback as a capital breeder, the energetic resources available for allocation between soma and gonads were estimated by its body weight. Somatic condition decreased during the breeding season and reproductive effort (gonad weight relative to body weight) increased. These patterns did not vary significantly between years. These observed variations in reproductive effort during the breeding season can be interpreted as empirical evidence of a trade-off between reproductive effort and expectation of future reproduction.