Relative growth of the major body componrnts of the southern elephant seal. Mirounga leonina (L.)

1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Bryden
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Elephant Seal ◽  
The Body ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Suckling Period ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Body Components

Relative growth of the main body components (fat, muscle, bone, viscera, and skin) is dealt with in detail, particularly in animals which had not attained nutritional independence; a period of accelerated growth in these animals was followed by a complete fast of 5-7 weeks. Seal pups more than trebled their birth weight over the 23-day suckling period, a high percentage of this increase being attributed to deposition of the blubber. During the postweaning fast, muscle, fat, and viscera were lost at a rate similar to the rate of gain during the suckling period, whereas bone and skin did not alter significantly in weight during the fasting phase. After the pups attained nutritional independence, the main body components grew at the same rate as body weight, except that in males at puberty muscle weight increased relatively more quickly than the body weight, and at the expense of bone and viscera. Developmental patterns within the musculature were studied by dissecting the muscles individually, and grouping them according to anatomical location into 10 muscle groups. The development of the musculature during the suckling period tended to be reversed during the postweaning fast. During these two phases, elephant seal pups remained on land most of the time. Developmental changes in the musculature occurred after the seal entered the water, and were modified slightly in sexually mature bulls. These changes are associated with the ecology of this group of animals. Evidence is given that developmental changes within the musculature occurred in response to functional requirements, and it is proposed that this could be brought about by alteration of growth gradients, which are not necessarily reversible during body weight loss. Individually dissected bones were allotted to one of five major anatomical groups, and the weight of the bone groups expressed as a percentage of the total bone weight was used in assessing the results of the changes in bone weight distribution with age. The weight of the bone groups was compared with the corresponding groups in new-born animals. It was found that those bones which are most important structurally (enabling the seal to meet the demands placed on it by the force of gravity) grew most during postnatal life, and that developmental changes in the skeleton occurred in response to functional demands. The winter "rest" periods that immature animals spend ashore are apparently necessary to direct the development of the growing animal to meet these structural demands when it hauls out on land, which it must do later in life to moult and to breed.

Size and growth of viscer in the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (L.)

1971 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Bryden
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
The Body ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Growth Phases ◽  
Elephant Seals

Relative size and relative growth of the viscera of elephant seals ranging in age from birth to 16 yr were studied. Individual organs were measured and weighed within an hour of death. The data were subjected to regression analyses, making use of the logarithmic transformation of the allometric equation. Fat-free body weight was the independent variable in the analyses, to avoid apparent growth patterns which could be attributable to large fluctuations in the body fat only. The relative weight data established normal values for organ weight in elephant seals in different phases of growth, although it was recognized that relative weight did change within growth phases in some organs, i.e, those whose growth coefficient was significantly greater or less than 1.000. Changes of relative weight of some organs were particularly marked in phase 1 of growth (suckling phase), when very rapid body weight growth occurred. The relative size of most organs was similar to that in other mammals. The stomach was relatively smaller than other carnivore stomachs, and the liver was relatively larger than in terrestrial mammals but similar to that in cetaceans. The relative length and weight of the small intestine were very much greater than in other carnivores. The spleen was relatively very large. The possible reasons for the difference in relative size of these organs in elephant seals and other mammals are discussed. Growth gradients of most organs did not alter significantly between or within growth phases. Exceptions to this pattern were noted and illustrated for the stomach, liver, pancreas, heart, reproductive tract, and eyes. The interpretation of the growth patterns of different organs was that changes in growth gradients occurred in those organs whose functional significance changed during postnatal life. The functional significance of most organs did not alter markedly within or between growth phases, and in those organs no change in growth pattern occurred throughout postnatal life.

DIRECT GENETIC AND POSTNATAL MATERNAL GENETIC EFFECTS ON BODY COMPOSITION IN MICE SELECTED FOR BODY WEIGHT

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Hayes ◽  
E. J. Eisen
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Line ◽  
Ether Extract ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Body Components ◽  
Water Percent

Line crossfostering techniques were used to study differences among selected and control lines of mice in direct genetic and postnatal maternal genetic influences on preweaning (day 12) body weight and composition. The lines were selected for high (H6) and low (L6) 6-week body weight and the control line (C2) was maintained by random selection. There were positive correlated responses to selection in both direct genetic and postnatal maternal genetic effects on body weight and weights of all body components (P < 0.01) except for water and ash weight in H6. The correlated responses in postnatal maternal genetic effects were of the same order of magnitude as those in direct genetic effects. Correlated responses were greater in L6 than in H6. Correlated responses in direct genetic effects were positive (P < 0.01) for water percent in H6 and ether extract percent in L6, and negative (P < 0.01) for water percent and lean percent in L6. Correlated responses in postnatal maternal genetic effects were positive for ether extract percent and negative for water percent (P < 0.01). Correlated responses were far greater in L6 than in H6 and were greater for postnatal maternal genetic effects than for direct genetic effects. Analyses of covariance results indicated line differences in the relative growth rates of the body components.

Studies on the ectoparasites of seals and penguins. 1. The ecology of the louse Lepidophthirus macrorhini Enderlein on the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (L)

1965 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 437 ◽  
Author(s):  
MD Murray ◽  
DG Nicholls
Keyword(s):  
Stratum Corneum ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Elephant Seal ◽  
The Body ◽  
Southern Elephant Seal ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Prolonged Stay ◽  
Blood Sucking ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals ◽  
Causes Of Mortality

Although the southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, that breed on Macquarie I., come ashore for only 3-5 weeks twice a year, the hind flippers of most of them are infested with the blood-sucking louse Lepidophthirus macrorhini. L. macrorhini does not oviposit, and eggs do not hatch, in water. Reproduction occurs when the elephant seal is ashore on the beach or in the adjacent tussock. The life cycle can be completed in c. 3 weeks and, because 6-9 eggs are laid daily, multiplication can be rapid. Temperatures greater than 25�C are required for rapid multiplication, and these temperatures occur more frequently on the hind flippers than elsewhere on the body. The number of L. macrorhini on a hind flipper however rarely exceeds 100. The principal causes of mortality of the lice are failure to survive the seal's prolonged stay at sea, the moult of the seal, and transmission to unfavourable sites on the seal. When an elephant seal goes to sea its skin temperature falls to nearly that of the sea. The reduction in the metabolic rate of the louse at low temperatures results in the amount of oxygen obtained from the sea by cutaneous respiration being sufficient for survival. The lice do not enter into a state of complete suspended animation, and a blood meal is required at least once a week to enable sufficient to survive to repopulate the seal. The skin temperature of a seal at sea rises more frequently on the flippers than elsewhere on the body because of the increased rate of blood flow to the flippers after diving and whenever it is necessary to dissipate heat. Consequently, there are more opportunities for the lice on the hind flippers to feed. L. macrorhini burrows into the stratum corneum, thus reducing losses to the population when the elephant seal annually sheds the outer layers of the stratum corneum attached to the hair, because only the roof of the burrow is lost. Lice do not reproduce on the older seals that moult in muddy wallows, and consequently fewer lice are found on these animals. Pups are infested within a few days of birth, and the gregarious habits of the elephant seal spread infestations through the seal population. Lice transfer to all parts of the bodies of seals but it is the multiplication of those on the flippers that maintains the louse population. The abundance of L. macrorhini is determined largely by the frequency and duration of opportunities to reproduce when the elephant seal is ashore, and to feed when the elephant seal is at sea.

Environmental and physiological determinants of successful foraging by naive southern elephant seal pups during their first trip to sea

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (11) ◽  
pp. 1807-1821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A Hindell ◽  
Bernie J McConnell ◽  
M A Fedak ◽  
David J Slip ◽  
Harry R Burton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elephant Seal ◽  
The Body ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Southern Elephant Seal ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Diurnal Pattern ◽  
Data Loggers ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals ◽  
Light Group

The ability to forage successfully during their first trip to sea is fundamental to the ultimate survival of newly weaned southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). However, there is considerable variation in the body mass and fat content of seal pups at weaning, which results in some individuals having larger energy and oxygen stores than others, which may confer advantages on them. The diving behaviour of 21 newly weaned seals was studied using satellite relayed data loggers. Seals were captured at Macquarie Island in December 1995 and 1996, approximately 4 weeks after weaning. Two groups of seals were specifically targeted: a heavy group from the top quartile of weaning masses (n = 6) and a light group from the lower quartile (n = 15). Most of the seals made dives in excess of 100 m depth and 5 min before final departure from the island. However, for the first 60-80 d, all of the seals exhibited behaviour quite distinct from the patterns reported for older conspecifics, and made relatively shallow (100 ± 39 m; mean ± SD) and short (5.7 ± 1.23 min) dives. During this time the seals spent 74.3 ± 12.6% of each day diving, and the depth of the dives did not follow any diurnal pattern. The diving behaviour of all seals changed abruptly when they started on their return to land. During this time their behaviour was more like that of adults: they made deeper (159 ± 9 m) and longer dives (9.01 ± 1.69 min) than previously, and the dives showed a strong diurnal pattern in depth. There is no obvious explanation for this change in behaviour, although its abrupt nature suggests that it is unlikely to have been due to physiological changes in the seals. The size of the seals at weaning was an important influence on diving behaviour. Heavy weaners made significantly deeper (130 ± 40 m) and longer dives (7.36 ± 0.55 min) than light weaners (88 ± 32 m and 5.04 ± 0.64 min, respectively). This indicates that smaller seals are constrained to some extent by their physiological capabilities, which perhaps requires some individuals to adopt different foraging strategies.

scholarly journals Effect of body weight of goats and lactation order on the growth rate of kids in the suckling period

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 1193-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zujovic ◽  
N. Memisi ◽  
V. Bogdanovic ◽  
Z. Tomic ◽  
N. Maksimovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Positive Sign ◽  
Suckling Period ◽  
Final Body Weight

The paper presents results of investigation of milk yield by lactation, by order, and mother's body weight on growth rate of kids of the domestic Balkan goat. Daily weight gains of 376 single kids (168 male and 208 female), in three monthly intervals, and their final body weight at 90 days of age were established. Variability of analyzed traits was presented using descriptive statistics parameters, and differences of growth traits for weight gain of kids resulting from the effect of milk yield of female goats by order of lactation were investigated by single analysis of variance. The effect of independent variables, mothers' milk yield and body weight, on body weight of kids was tested using multiple regression analysis. During the entire suckling period, established average values for kids body weight differed significantly (P<0.001), increasing from the 1st toward later lactations. At 90 days of age the lowest values were established in kids from the youngest mothers (11.86 kg), while for kids of mothers in the fourth or later lactations these values were higher (13.93 kg). Coefficients of determination indicate that the variability percentage for individual growth traits of kids was in the 0.08 - 0.17 interval, indicating its significance. Both "b" coefficients (b1 and b2) are positive and statistically highly significant, except for coefficient b2 in the analysis of body weight of kids at birth. The positive sign and high statistical significance indicate a pronounced effect of mother's milk yield and body weight on the body weight of kids up to 90 days of age.

The effect of pre- and post-natal nutrition on the growth of beef cattle. 3. The effect of severe restriction in early post-natal life on the development of the body components and chemical composition

1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
GD Tudor ◽  
DW Utting ◽  
PK O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Feeding Period ◽  
Castrate Male ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Body Components ◽  
Female Cattle

The effects of restricted growth of cattle both before and after birth, of the method of their realimentation, and of sex on (1) body and carcass composition, (2) the weights of visceral components, (3) the weights of selected individual muscles and bones, and (4) the heights of the animals at the withers and pelvis were ascertained. Castrate male and entire female cattle were slaughtered when their liveweights reached 400 and 370 kg respectively. Other male and female calves were slaughtered at 200 days of age following a controlled feeding period on either a high or a low plane diet. Although pre-natal nutrition significantly (P < 0.05) affected the height of the calves at 3 days of age, it had no lasting effect on this or other components. When adjusted to the same empty body weight or carcass weight, animals restricted in growth then intensively realimented had (P < 0.01) more fat and less protein, water and ash than animals unrestricted in growth and later fed intensively. Animals finished on pasture had (P < 0.01) less fat and more protein, water and ash than the intensively finished calves, but their composition was unaffected by the controlled feeding treatments. Significant differences (P < 0.01) between restricted and unrestricted animals in the percentage water or protein in the fat-free mass at the end of the controlled feeding period were eliminated when the animals had recovered. The weights of visceral components, individual muscles and bones were not influenced by the level of nutrition during the controlled feeding period. Animals finished on pasture had (P < 0.01) more blood, heavier livers, heavier individual muscles and bones than the intensively finished animals. They also had (P < 0.01) lighter fasted liveweight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage and heavier wet rumen-reticulum contents than the intensively finished cattle. Although the pasture finished animals were (P < 0.01) shorter at 200 and 300 days of age than the intensively finished animals, they were (P < 0.01) taller just prior to slaughter. It is suggested that meat-producing animals can overcome restrictions imposed on growth immediately after birth to attain marketable weight on either pasture or intensive feeding.

Allometric changes during growth in rabbits

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Deltoro ◽  
Ana M. Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Alimentary Tract ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Allometric Equation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Total Fat

SUMMARYDifferential growth from 1 to 20 weeks of age was studied on 320 rabbits from two lines (New Zealand White and California) and both sexes by means of the allometric equation log y = log a + b log x. Regression lines were fitted to the evolution of organs (blood, skin, thymus, heart–lungs, liver, kidneys and alimentary tract), carcass, tissues (bone, lean and fat) and anatomic components (head, breast and ribs, loin, abdominal wall, fore and hind legs) relative to empty body weight; stomach, caecum and intestines relative to alimentary tract; bone and lean groups relative to total bone and lean and fat depots relative to total fat.The convenience for a correct description of relative growth of determining both the quantitative growth, in order to apply the allometric equation only to the real growth period of each component, and the possible existence of allometric changes, is discussed.The results for each component are presented and discussed. There were no significant differences due to line, and sex had a significant influence (P < 0·001) only on the relative growths of total fat, lean content in the loin and hypodermic fat. All the components, with the exception only of thymus, presented a change in their allometric coefficients. These changes for most components, except fat depots, were concentrated in a small interval of time (4–8 weeks of age) between weaning and the inflexion point of the body weight growth curve.

Growth patterns in sheep: changes in the chemical composition of the empty body and its constituent parts during weight loss and compensatory growth

1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Butler-Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Body Components ◽  
Three Body

SummaryChemical compositional (protein, fat, ash and water) changes in the fleece-free empty body, carcass, viscera and ‘remainder’ components of Corriedale wether sheep were measured by serial slaughter of animals following five different growth paths.The composition of sheep, after losing up to 34% of body weight over 18 weeks at 125 g/day, was significantly different from a continuously growing control group at the same body weight, but the actual differences in the weights of tissues were small. At the end of weight loss all treatment sheep contained more fat and protein, and less water than controls.The different growth paths followed during weight loss led to differences in the proportions of protein, fat, ash and water lost and to differences between the three body components in the relative contribution made by each.The periods of weight loss led to changes in the relative growth coefficients for chemical constituents during realimentation, particularly those of fat and ash which were reduced, and of water which was increased.The response to realimentation differed between body components, particularly the carcass and viscera. Above the body weight at which weight loss was imposed the realimented sheep did not differ in chemical composition from the continuously ad libitum fed controls when compared at the same weight.

scholarly journals Differential Diagnosis of Congenital Pneumonia in Newborns with Low and Extremely Low Body Weight (Morphological Study)

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Perepelitsa ◽  
E. F. Smerdova
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Histological Examination ◽  
Premature Infants ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lung Damage ◽  
Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Perinatal Hypoxia ◽  
Hyaline Membranes

The purpose of the study is a comprehensive assessment of morphological changes in the placenta and lungs to detect early signs of congenital pneumonia in extremely premature infants.Materials and methods. Protocols of post-mortem examinations of 23 preterm newborns died from severe respiratory failure were analyzed. The average gestational age of the newborns was 26.4±2.7 weeks and the body weight at birth was 972.4±355.8 grams. In the sample, 78.3% of infants had an extremely low birth weight (ELBW). At birth, all newborns presented severe asphyxia. Newborn underwent several types of respiratory therapy since birth: Mechanical ventilation was performed in 65.2% of newborns since their birth, non-invasive ventilation was performed in 26.1% of cases, and 8.7% of patients underwent oxygenotherapy through a facial mask. In all cases, there was an unfavorable course of the neonatal period, a progressive deterioration of newborns' condition, and a lethal outcome. A comprehensive histological examination of the placenta and the lungs of deceased premature newborn infants was performed.Results. Congenital infections of different localizations remain the leading cause of death.Congenital pneumonia and generalized infections are clinically manifested at birth by severe perinatal hypoxia and respiratory failure. In the case of congenital pneumonia, the morphological patterns are polymorphic and characterize the severity of lung damage. For some newborns, these patterns include accumulation of exudates and fibrin, segmented leukocytes, fragments of basophilic coccal microflora, and a large number of colony forming bacilli, and desquamated alveolocytes with a deformed nucleus are visualized in the deformed lumen of the alveoli and bronchi. Diffuse lymphoid-leukocyte infiltration in the septa and respiratory parts of the lungs are typical for other infants. Histological examination find lumpy or lamellar eosinophilic hyaline membranes in alveoli in specimens from these newborns. Diffuse, focal or confluent segmentonuclear infiltration in various lung structures is commonly combined with hyaline membranes of various localizations and sizes. Hyaline membranes were detected in 93.5% of cases.Conclusion. Very early preterm delivery is associated with intrauterine pneumonia and systemic infection in extremely premature infants. Early clinical and laboratory signs of intrauterine infectious lung include severe perinatal hypoxia, very low Apgar score and laboratory test findings (hypoxaemia and decompensated metabolic lactate acidosis) that are resistant to standard resuscitation measures. Hypoxemia and decompensated metabolic acidosis persisting during the first hours of postnatal life indicate the severity of intrauterine lung damage and require a rapid change of treatment aimed at normalization of lung function, prevention of complications in the respiratory system, hemostasis and central nervous system. Clinicians should be better informed about the features of early postnatal adaptation of extremely premature infants with congenital pneumonia to provide appropriate treatment.

scholarly journals Maternal obesity and fetal programming: effects of a high-carbohydrate nutritional modification in the immediate postnatal life of female rats

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (4) ◽  
pp. E895-E903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malathi Srinivasan ◽  
Catherine Dodds ◽  
Husam Ghanim ◽  
Tao Gao ◽  
Peter J. Ross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
The Body ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Milk Formula ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
High Carbohydrate

Our earlier studies have shown that the artificial rearing of newborn rat pups [first generation high carbohydrate (1-HC)] on an HC milk formula resulted in chronic hyperinsulinemia and adult-onset obesity (HC phenotype). Offspring [second-generation HC (2-HC)] of 1-HC female rats spontaneously acquired the HC phenotype in the postweaning period. In this study, we have characterized the development of the abnormal intrauterine environment in the 1-HC female rats and the effects on fetal development under such pregnancy conditions for the offspring. 1-HC female rats demonstrated hyperphagia on laboratory chow and increased body weight gain beginning from the immediate postweaning period along with hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. During pregnancy, 1-HC female rats showed several metabolic alterations including increased body weight gain and increased plasma levels of insulin, leptin, proinflammatory markers, and lipid peroxidation products. Although there were no significant changes in the body weights or litter size of term 2-HC fetuses, the plasma levels of insulin and leptin were significantly higher compared with those of control term fetuses. Quantitation of mRNA levels by real-time RT-PCR indicated significant increases in the mRNA levels of orexigenic neuropeptides in the hypothalamus of 2-HC term fetuses. Collectively, these results indicate that the HC diet in infancy results in an adverse pregnancy condition in female rats with deleterious consequences for the offspring.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document