Weights of brain,heart, liver,kidneys, and spleen in healthy and apparently healthy adult Danish subjects

Based on a forensic material of 1,598 autopsies of Danish adults (1,086 males, 512 females ≥ 16 years of age), who prior to death were healthy or apparently healthy based on clinical evidence, the weights of brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and spleen were registered. The variability of organ weights was estimated. Relationships between organ weights and body size, and among organ weights were also evaluated. Males had larger organ weights than females. When organ weights were based on the same estimated fat free mass, interesting differences between the sexes were observed: weights of the heart and brain were smaller in females, but weights of the kidney were the same; weights of the liver were consistently larger in females than in males. Useful comparisons of the data with previous studies were impossible because of differences in the criteria of health and of insufficient numbers. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Inter-organ unevenness and catch-up growth in rats

The recovery in body weight (catch-up growth) was studied in juvenile male and female rats either exposed to hypoxia during the first postnatal week (10% inspired O2, Hypoxic) or with limited caloric intake (by growing in large litter size) during the first two postnatal weeks (LowCal). Compared to controls, the experimental rats had a severe stunting in body growth. The effects on the dry and wet weights of the internal organs (kidney, lungs, brain, heart, liver, thymus, skeleton) differed between Hypoxic and LowCal, but were similar between sexes. Catch-up growth during the following weeks was more apparent in females than in males, and accompanied by increased oxygen consumption. At 1 and, especially, 3 months, the organs had almost recovered their original weights, although differences in protein and DNA content (measured in brain, lungs, heart, brown adipose tissue) were still present in some cases. In general, organ recovery was more apparent in LowCal than in Hypoxic, and in females than in males. In the experimental groups the unevenness in weight among organs (coefficient of variation of the individual weights relative to control) at 10 days, 1 month and 3 months correlated with the specific growth rate of the first, second and third month. This finding supports the possibility that inter-organ unevenness may represent an additional factor controlling the rate of catch-up growth.     

Characterization of age- and gender-related changes in the spleen and thymus from control cynomolgus macaques used in toxicity studies

Age- and gender-related lymphoid tissue variability in control male and female monkeys of various ages (under three years; three to six years; seven to fifteen years) was characterized. Spleen and thymus organ weights, organ-to-body and organ-to-brain ratios, morphology by light microscopy, and B- and T-cell immunohistochemistry (IHC) were evaluated. Splenic weights and ratios were not significantly different between various age groups or genders, except males and females in the three-to-six-years age group, who exhibited statistically significant changes from the under-three-years age group. No differences in the number of primary follicles, secondary follicles with germinal centers, B-cell follicles, and periarterial lymphoid sheath were seen between age groups or genders, and no trends were noted in the spleen. By IHC, no differences were observed in B- and T-cell splenic densities. Several age- and gender-related changes in weights and ratios were noted in the thymus. The thymus had a trend toward increased interlobular fat infiltration with increasing age in both males and females. Thymic delineation of the cortex and medulla was significantly decreased in the seven-to-fifteen-years age group for males only. The cortex-to-medulla ratio was significantly lower only in males in the seven-to-fifteen-years age group. B- and T-cell cellular density did not change across various ages.     

Effects of photoperiods on the weights of bursa of Fabricius and thymus in Japanese quail

Effects of photoperiods on the growth of the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus were investigated in male (1-8 weeks after hatching) and female (5-7 weeks after hatching) Japanese quail. In males from hatching to 4 weeks of age, the bursal growth was not affected by photoperiod. However, the growth pattern was different between long and short days after 4 weeks of age, i.e., the bursal weight under long days (LD 16:8) increased rapidly until 6 weeks of age and regressed thereafter, whereas it continued to increase under short days (LD 8:16), keeping a constant ratio to body weight. The growth of the thymus showed a similar pattern to that of the bursa of Fabricius. The age for the thymus to reach the maximum weight under LD 16:8 was almost the same as that for the bursa. In LD 8:16, thymus weight increased until 6 weeks and thereafter remained constant. In females, bursa of Fabricius and thymus weights decreased from 6 to 7 weeks under LD 16:8, which was coincided well with the rapid oviduct growth, whereas the organ weights increased under short days. Thus, it was clearly shown that the growth pattern of lymphoid organs is affected by photoperiods in both male and female Japanese quail.     

Brain weight of Northwest Indian children and adolescents

Brain weight of 708 individuals, 329 neonates (211 males and 118 females), 142 infants (101 males, 41 females), and 237 children and adolescents (136 males and 101 females), from Chandigarh region of northwest India were measured. Brain weight was 371.9 ± 89.5 gm in male newborns and 342.5 ± 72.2 gm in female newborns (P > 0.05). It increased to 444.7 ± 87.2 gm in the former and 405.0 ± 78.5 gm in the latter at the end of the neonatal period (28 days). Brain weight increased to 845.7 ± 163.4 gm in males and 803.0 ± 100.1 gm in females at the end of 12 months (P > 0.05), and then to 1241.9 ± 104.5 gm in the age group of 5–6 years in males and to 1101.3 ± 37.5 gm in the age group of 3–4 years in females. Thereafter, there was a gradual increase in the brain weight to 1326.9 ± 126.9 gm in male and 1206.3 ± 86.4 gm in female adolescents in the age group of 16–17 years (P < 0.01). By the age of 6 years, about 94.5% (95.6% in males and 93.3% in females) of adult brain weight was attained. Sex differences became evident after the age of 14 years. Relationships between brain weight and age, supine body length, body weight and body surface area were also considered. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:505–509, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Morphogenetic studies of the rabbit. XXXIX. Ponderal correlation coefficients of the bones form two races of rabbits

Thirty-five male an 30 female rabbits of large race III derived from the New Zealand White race and the same numbers of small race X, from Castle's small race, were used in this study. Earlier studies on these two races have shown that the males are more variable in body weight and body length; and that the individual bones are likewise more variable in weight and in length in the males. In this study, body weight and the weight of the entire skeleton were correlated on the basis of the null hypothesis with the individual bone weights and the individual bone weights were intercorrelated. The correlations are, for the most part, higher in the males than in the females of both races. The males of small race X have higher correlations than the males of large race III. Thus, although the entire body size varies more in the males. the weights of the bones are, for the most part, more closely correlated with body weight and total skeletal weight and with the other bones in the males than in the females. Some of the lowest correlations are with bones having large proportions of cancellous bone.     

Weights of the heart in northwest Indian adults

Weights of apparently normal hearts were obtained from 1,344 male and 313 female adults from the Chandigarh region of northwest India, on whom a medicolegal autopsy was performed. The average weight of the heart was 296.7 ± 48.5 gm in males and 238.9 ± 45.1 gm in females. Partial correlations between heart weight and body weight and supine length were significant. The correlation between heart weight and age was, however, not statistically significant. Multiple regression constants with standard errors were generated for estimating the weight of the heart for intervals of body weight and supine length in living subjects. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Normal values of total body water in healthy Korean adults: comparison with data from western populations

To find reference total body water (TBW) values in healthy Korean adults, we performed single frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis on 2942 healthy adults and compared these data with those of normal western adults. Males were found to have greater TBW than females. Conversely, females were found to have greater percent fat (pFat) than males. In both sexes, body weight (BW) and TBW were significantly lower in age groups of < 30, 50 - 59, > or = 60 years than in the 40 - 49 years age group. pFats were significantly higher in age groups of 50 - 59 and > or = 60 years than in the 40 - 49 years age group. pFats were similar among age groups of < 30, 30 - 39, and 40 - 49 in both sexes. In all age groups, pFats were significantly higher in females than in males. TBW was significantly correlated with BW, height (HT), fat mass, and body mass index (BMI) in both sexes. There was a significant correlation between TBW and age in males(r=-0.15, p=0.00), but not in females (r=-0.02, p=0.45). On linear regression analysis, TBW values were independently associated with BW, HT and age in males and were independently associated with BW and BMI in females. In all age groups, Korean males and females had lower mean TBW than in Western populations. However, this difference was greater in males than in females. In summary, we represented the contemporary normal TBW data in healthy Korean adults. At present, there are no national reference data relating TBW in Korea. We hope the results of this study will be useful as the baseline data for the evaluation of hydration and nutritional status in healthy and ill adults, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD).     

Infant feeding with soy formula milk: effects on puberty progression, reproductive function and testicular cell numbers in marmoset monkeys in adulthood

BACKGROUND: This marmoset study addresses concerns about feeding human male infants with soy formula milk (SFM). METHODS: From age 4 to 5 days, seven male co-twin sets were fed standard formula milk (SMA) or SFM for 5-6 weeks; blood samples were subsequently collected at 10-week intervals. Testes from co-twins killed at 120-138 weeks were fixed for cell counts. RESULTS: SFM- and SMA-fed twins showed normal weight gain; puberty started and progressed normally, based on blood testosterone measurements. Body weight, organ weights (prostate, seminal vesicles, pituitary, thymus and spleen) and penis length were comparable in co-twins. All SMA- and 6/7 SFM-fed males were fertile. Unexpectedly, testis weight (P = 0.041), Sertoli (P = 0.025) and Leydig cell (P = 0.026) numbers per testis were consistently increased in SFM-fed co-twins; the increase in Leydig cell numbers was most marked in males with consistently low-normal testosterone levels. Seminiferous epithelium volume per tubule showed a less consistent, non-significant increase in SFM-fed males; raised germ cell numbers per testis, probably due to increased Sertoli cells, conceivably resulted in larger testes. Average lumen size, although greater in SFM-fed group, was inconsistent between co-twins and the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Infant feeding with SFM has no gross adverse reproductive effects in male marmosets, though it alters testis size and cell composition, and there is consistent, if indirect, evidence for possible 'compensated Leydig cell failure'. Similar and perhaps larger changes likely occur in adult men who were fed SFM as infants.     

Skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue weights in older Japanese determined by cadaver dissection

Forty-six embalmed cadavers of elderly Japanese 48 to 95 years of age, 35 males and 10 females, were completely dissected, and the weights of skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue were determined. Absolute and relative skin weight in males (2.68 kg, 5.7%) were similar to those in females (2.73 kg, 6.1%). However, females had more dissectible subcutaneous adipose tissue (5.82 kg, 12.3%) than males (3.18 kg, 6.3%). These figures are comparable to dissection data obtained from embalmed cadavers in Belgium which covered a similar age range. There were statistically significant differences between Japanese and Belgians for body weight and skin weight. However, there was no difference in relative skin weight. Similar sex differences were apparent in the Japanese and Belgians. Skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue weights were significantly correlated with body weight in both sexes. Prediction equations for skin weight (SW) and subcutaneous adipose tissue weight (SATW) from body weight in Japanese are SW (g) = 0.04357 Body weight + 638.3 (r = 0.70; SEE = 386.7 g) (for males and females); SATW (g) = 0.18902 Body weight ? 5837.4 (r = 0.78; SEE = 1,328.3 g) (for males); and SATW (g) = 0.36497 Body weight ? 10581.5 (r = 0.79; SEE = 2,560.1 g) (for females).     

Observations on the pilot whale Globicephala melaena: Organweight and growth

The organ weights of 55 Pilot whales (Globicephala melaena) of known age, sex and length were determined by direct measurement. These weights were compared with body length and statistical analysis demonstrated a high degree of correlation between non-endocrine organ weight and body length, and by extension with body weight. Non-endocrine organs are not significantly related (p>0.1). Graphs demonstrated the essentially parabolic nature of the weight and growth curves. Statements regarding organ weights in this, and presumably in related species are meaningless unless taken in conjunction with either body length or weight.     

The magnitudes of litter size and sex effects on brain growth of BALB/c mice

In a sample of 67 litters of genetically uniform BALB/c mice, litter size before weaning, which ranged from 2 to 11 animals, had a strong negative and approximately linear effect on body and brain sizes at 100 days after birth. For both males and females, the difference between litters of 11 and 2 was about 3.7 g body weight and 42 mg brain weight. The difference in brain weights was similar to effects produced by severe protein-calorie undernutrition in the postnatal suckling period. The relationship between body weight and brain weight was approximately linear and the fit was not improved significantly by including a nonlinear term or using the allometric equation. The allometric exponent was approximately .35, which is close to values commonly observed for populations of mice having large genetic variability. Although the slopes of the equations relating brain size to body size were similar for males and females, females had substantially larger brains than their male littermates. When males and females were equated statistically for body weight, the brains of females averaged about 32 mg heavier. Statistical considerations in making these estimates are discussed.     

Infant rats: VMH damage and the ontogeny of obesity and neuroendocrine dysfunction

The VMH was bilaterally destroyed in preweanling (Day 10) or postweanling (Day 40) male and female rats. Growth parameters (body weight, body length, Lee indices) were measured until 200 days of age, nutrient intake was measured during maturity, and an analysis of endocrine gland weights and adenohypophyseal morphology was performed on preweanling rats. When compared with controls, growth was abnormal for VMH rats after 50–80 days of age. Bilateral preweanling females displayed elevated body weights, normal body lengths, and elevated Lee indices, while bilateral preweanling males had normal body weights, stunted linear growth, and elevated Lee indices. Postweanling VMH rats exhibited elevated body weights and elevated Lee indices; however, postweanling VMH males displayed augmented linear growth. VMH rats were normophagic and demonstrated finickiness to taste-aversive fluids. Endocrine gland analysis revealed that preweanling VMH males had neuroendocrine deficits related to somatotrophic hormone (low pituitary weight, decreased adenohypophyseal acidophils), while female VMH rats had neuroendocrine pathology related to metabolic dysfunction (all gland weights were low, decreased adenohypophyseal basophil size).     

Male and female 5-HT(1B) receptor knockout mice have higher body weights than wildtypes.

5-HT(1B) receptors have a regulatory role in serotonergic activity and influence feeding behavior and body weight. Because the absence of 5-HT(1B) receptors may cause changes in this regulation, body weight was measured in male and female 5-HT(1B) receptor knockout (5-HT(1B) KO) and wildtype (WT) mice from weaning until the age of 30 weeks. In both genders, 5-HT(1B) KO mice had a higher body weight than WT mice (17% and 9%, respectively). Body weight was significantly higher for males over the entire period and for females from Week 18 onwards. Absolute food and water consumption were related to body weight. However, relative to body weight, males consumed more than females. 5-HT(1B) KO males drank strikingly more water. Housing mice singly reduced food and water intake in males, but not in females. Plasma leptin levels and most organ weights did not differ between genotypes, indicating that higher body weight in 5-HT(1B) KO mice is not related to obesity. Relative to body weight, brains and adrenals were larger in females, while heart and liver were smaller. Kidneys were smaller in females, but larger in 5-HT(1B) KO mice, while lungs showed opposite effects. Spleen and testes were smaller in 5-HT(1B) KO mice. Although 5-HT(1B) KO males are more aggressive, testosterone levels were not different from WT mice. Basal corticosterone levels were similar in all groups and increased in response to mild stress, particularly in females. Lifelong absence of 5-HT(1B) receptors in mice resulted in clear phenotypic differences in body weights and food and water intake. Lacking this receptor increases body growth, without signs of obesity. A potential genetic background effect influencing this phenotype is discussed.     

Successive resetting of the set point for target body size

Previous studies support the existence of a central set point for target body size. The set point is a hypothetical fixed reference for body size. The present experiments were carried out to determine whether target body size and, by implication, the putative set point can be consecutively reset or whether, once set by an extraneous factor, it is refractory to another extraneous factor. Male and female rats were given 6.0 Gy whole head X-irradiation at two days of age or were sham-irradiated as controls. Significant permanent reduction of body weight, tibia length, and pituitary weight resulted from head-irradiation in both males and females; gonad weight was reduced in males but not significantly in females. At 41 days of age the irradiated animals were injected sc with cortisone acetate, 1 mg/25 g body weight/day, or saline. During cortisone treatment the head-irradiated rats had a decrease in body weight velocity; the effect was greater in males than in females. Following treatment growth velocity approached normal in treated males, and slightly exceeded normal in treated females. Treated males had significantly reduced body weight, tail length, and tibia length at the end of the study. Treated females showed a similar pattern of body weight growth to the treated males, but there was not a significant long term reduction of body weight or change in tail length or tibia length. Final pituitary and gonad size was not affected by cortisone treatment in either sex. The results indicate that the reset of target size after head-irradiation does not result from damage to putative control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

深圳市体检人群代谢综合症及其相关危险因素的分析

目的探讨深圳市体检人群不同性别、年龄组代谢综合症（MS）诊断及其相关危险因素流行病学分布特点。方法按照2004年中华医学会推荐诊断标准,对收集到的8884名体检人员的体重、身高、血压、空腹血糖及血脂进行不同性别、年龄组MS诊断及其相关危险因素流行病学分布特点分析。结果 MS患病人数1412,总患病率为15.89%,其中男性患病率为19.98%,女性患病率为11.52%,患病率在50岁之前,男性明显高于女性,61岁以后女性高于男性,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。高血压患病率男女分别为21.90%、15.17%,高空腹血糖患病率男女分别为7.10%、4.73%,高甘油三酯（TG）患病率男女分别为44.32%、22.10%,高BMI患病率男女分别为39.07%、18.32%,均为男性高于女性,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。高甘油三酯血症、肥胖患病率最高;各代谢危险因素间有相关性（P〈0.001）。结论深圳市体检人群MS患病率高,特别是青年男性、老年女性,主要危险因素为高甘油三酯血症、肥胖。     

Characterization of thymic weight and thymic peptide thymosin-beta 4: effects of hypophysectomy, sex, and neonatal sexual differentiation.

An initial experiment was conducted to analyze the effects of hypophysectomy (Days 5-30 post hypophysectomy) on thymic weight and thymosin-beta 4 concentrations. After hypophysectomy, thymic weight and thymosin-beta 4 concentrations decreased with time (5, 10, 15, and 30 days post hypophysectomy) and by 30 days post hypophysectomy were reduced by 50%. Exp. II investigated the effects of early sexual differentiation on thymic weight and thymosin-beta 4 concentrations in pituitary intact and hypophysectomized male, female, nonmasculinized rats (via castration of males at Day 2 or 11 of age and androgenized female (at Day 3 of age) rats. Rats were hypophysectomized at 30 days of age and, at 17 days post hypophysectomy, the thymus gland was dissected and weighed. Serum was collected for thymosin-beta 4 analysis. At 47 days of age, males have a greater thymic weight when compared to females (p less than 0.01) but hypophysectomy eliminated any sex differences and significantly reduced thymic weights (p less than 0.05). Hypophysectomy did produce increased thymosin-beta 4 concentrations across all treatments (p less than 0.01) and is considered to be a combination response of decreased gonadal function via lack of pituitary hormonal stimulation (luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone) and lack of gonadotrophic effects on the thymus gland and its secretory capacity. Hypophysectomized males and Day-2 castrate males had increased thymosin-beta 4 concentrations when compared to hypophysectomized females and neonatally androgenized females (p less than 0.05). Differences of thymic weights between male and female rats during prepubertal development are probably related more to presence or absence of gonads, gonadal steroids, and response of the thymus to pituitary secretagogues rather than to neonatal sexual differentiation of thymic function and secretion of thymosin-beta 4.     

拉萨藏族儿童青少年跟骨骨强度的年龄变化及其影响因素

目的:收集拉萨藏族儿童青少年骨强度指数数据,探讨其随年龄变化规律并分析年龄、性别、身高、体质量、体质量指数(BMI)、去脂体质量、脂肪质量、肌肉质量、基础代谢对该人群骨强度指数的影响。方法:采用随机整群抽样法抽取拉萨藏族儿童青少年共1 227例(男592例,女635例),定量骨超声测量跟骨骨强度指数,生物电阻抗法检测体成分,所获数据录人SPSS20.0软件,进行统计分析。结果:拉萨藏族儿童青少年随着年龄增加,骨强度指数及其影响因素均呈上升趋势;同年龄组间比较,骨强度指数仅在8岁组出现性别差异;其他指标多在12岁以后出现显著性别差异。女性10～15岁,骨强度指数增长较快;而男性12岁以后开始快速增长。骨强度指数与年龄、身高、体质量、BMI、去脂体质量、脂肪质量、肌肉质量及基础代谢均呈正相关关系。多元线性回归分析显示,体质量、年龄和去脂体质量是跟骨骨强度指数的主要影响因素。结论:拉萨藏族儿童青少年男女跟骨骨强度指数变化规律不一致,其主要影响因素为体质量、年龄及去脂体质量。     

Distribution of high density lipoprotein cholesterol according to relative body weight, cigarette smoking and leisure time physical activity. The Cardiovascular Disease Study in Finnmark 1977

The relationship between HDL cholesterol and relative body weight, cigarette smoking and leisure time physical activity were examined in 7338 healthy men and 6768 healthy women aged 20-53 years, living in Finnmark County, Northern Norway. The independent effects of the three factors were examined by an analysis of covariance. In both sexes a strong and almost linear negative association was observed between relative body weight and HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol was lower in smokers than in non-smokers, the difference being more pronounced in females than in males. A weak but significant positive association was observed between leisure time physical activity and HDL cholesterol in both sexes.     

Sonographic measurement of the spleen: splenic length in adults and its correlation with different parameters

Aim: The purpose of this study was to establish guidelines for normal splenic length at different ages by using a simple and reproducible sonographic method and to find out a relation between spleen length, age, height, weight, and surface area. Materials and methods: One hundred sixty subjects, from 21 years to 60 years old, had sonography because of abdominal and/or pelvic problems unrelated to the spleen. The splenic size was measured by obtaining a coronal view that included the hilum during deep inspiration to minimize masking by lung. The greatest longitudinal distance between the dome of the spleen and the tip (splenic length) was measured and correlated with age, height, and weight. Results: The results show that the splenic length decreased with increase in age in both males and females. The length of the spleen increased with increase in the body height, body weight, and body surface area in both males and females. In most of the subjects, the splenic length was found to be <11 cm. The splenic size in males was greater than that in females. Discussion: The findings of present study that the splenic length decreases with age are similar to the findings of Loftus and Metreweli. Konus et al in 1998 proposed that the splenic length correlated best with the body height. This is similar to the findings of the present study. The finding of present study that the splenic length has positive correlation with the body height, weight, and surface area is similar to the finding of Megremis et al. Conclusion: On the basis of the above study, it was concluded that the splenic length decreased with increase in age in both males and females. The length of the spleen has positive correlations with increase in the body height, body weight, and body surface area in both males and females. The splenic length was less in females than that in males with the corresponding age, body height, body weight, and body surface area. In most of the subjects, the splenic length was found to be <11 cm.