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Surface Area and Metabolism of Growing Guinea Pigs¹

Two Figures

Department of Dairy Husbandry, University of Missouri, Columbia

Data are reported on metabolism (oxygen consumption) in relation to body weight, age, and surface area for the same 4 male and 4 female guinea pigs from birth to 1 year of age. The female group had a higher metabolic rate than the male group for the entire period of measurement. The average "resting" metabolism for both groups rose from 750 Cal. per square meter per day at 2 weeks after birth to 820 at 10 weeks and then declined to 720 at 7 months. Similar average "basal" values reached a maximum of 810 Cal. per square meter per day at 8 weeks and a minimum of 670 at 8.5 months.

From surface area measurements on 19 guinea pigs, ranging in weight from 230 to 1150 gm, the relation between surface area and weight was found to be expressed by the equation S.A. = 9.85W^0.64 where S.A. is area in square centimeters and W is weight in grams.

We similarly related total metabolism to body weight by the same type of power equation and found that for guinea pigs weighing less than 500 gm, the metabolism increased more rapidly than surface area relative to increasing body weight (the exponent exceeded 0.64), and that for animals weighing more than 500 gm, the metabolism increased less rapidly than surface area with increasing body weight.

Manuscript received 7 November 1946.