BASAL OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF HEREDITARILY OBESE AND DIABETIC MICE

Abstract

A study was conducted of the O2 consumption of obese and nonobese members of the "Obob" strain of mice. The obese members showed an insulin-resistant type of diabetes, other characteristic symptoms previously descr., and a very low rate of fasting O2 consumption. On a body wt. basis, the latter was less than half that of the non-obese animals; on a body surface basis, their "basal metabolic rate" was lower by more than 40%. Their avg. wt. was almost twice that of the non-obese animals; their total O2 consumption was somewhat lower. When the basal metabolic rate of the obese animals was brought up to non-obese levels by injns. of thyroxine, a rapid loss of body wt. ensued. The same dose given to non-obese animals had a much smaller effect on O2 consumption and no effect on body wt.