Experiment 4

The Set-up for Determining the Basal Metabolic Rate of a Normal

Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
M. S. Abad, A. P. D. G. Abeleda, C. G. S. M. Arce and K. B. Bautista
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, Espaa,
Manila, Philippines
Keywords:

Summary

Introduction

hypophysis, or the anterior pituitary gland.

The production of TSH is controlled by the
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone, which is
released by the hypothalamus.

The endocrine system is one of the two

organ systems (the other being the nervous
system) that functions in control and
communication of the body. Hormones,
which are chemical messengers, are secreted
from endocrine glands into the bloodstream
then to the target cell. They play important
roles in regulating a variety of physiological
processes, thus maintaining homeostasis.
They also control long-term responses
throughout the body.
Metabolism is defined as all of the
biochemical reactions that occur in the body
of living organisms; and metabolic rate is
measured as heat production per unit time.
The metabolic rate in mammals is set by the
thyroid hormones, which are secreted from
the thyroid gland.
3, 5, 3', 5' tetraiodothyronine (T4 or
Thyroxine) and 3,5,3' triiodothyronine (T3)
are collectively termed as the thyroid
hormones. They are hydrophobic, unlike
most biogenic amines. They are released via
diffusion from the lysosome upon
degradation of the thyroglobulin protein.
Thyroid-stimulating
hormone
(TSH)
regulates the secretion of the thyroid
hormones. This is produced by the

Determining
the
Thyroid-stimulating
hormone levels in the body is generally used
to measure thyroid function. Normal levels
indicate euthyroidism, while abnormal levels
indicate
either
hypothyroidism
or
hyperthyroidism.
This experiment aims to observe and
understand the set-up used for basal
metabolic rate measurement as well as
determine the basal metabolic rate of a
normal rat.
Materials and Methods

Fig 1.A Hypothetical set-up for Basal

Metabolic Rate (BMR) measurement;
1.B Actual set-up used for BMR
measurement
The set-up used to determine the basal
metabolic rate measurement consisted of a
glass animal chamber, rubber tubing, a
clamp, a t-connector, soda lime, a
manometer, syringe, an animal scale, and a
normal rat.
In the set-up, the airtight, glass animal
chamber was used in order to provide an
isolated and closed system for measuring the
amount of oxygen consumed by the rat. This
ensures that no outside air will enter during
a given amount of time. This chamber is
connected to rubber tubing, where a clamp
on the left side allows outside air passage
into the chamber while equalizing the
manometer levels, and a t-connector on the
right connects the chamber to the
manometer and the syringe.

Soda lime was used to absorb the carbon

dioxide (CO2) exhaled by the rat to assure
the measurement of pure oxygen. A
manometer was used to measure the
pressure, wherein consumption of oxygen by
the rat will lead to fluid rising to the left side
of the tube. The syringe was used to
introduce air into the tube, and measure the
amount of air for the manometer levels to
equalize. An animal scale was used in
determining the weight of the rat, and lastly,
a normal laboratory rat was used to conduct
the experiment.
The weight of the rat was first measured
using a scale. Then, it was placed in the
glass animal chamber. The clamp on the left
tube was closed to ensure a closed system. A
timer was then set for one minute to measure
the amount of oxygen consumed by the rat
in the chamber. The t-connector was then
used to connect the manometer and the
syringe. Afterwards, the clamp was opened
to allow outside air to enter the chamber. Air
was then injected to equalize the level in the
left and right arms of the manometer. Once
the levels were equalized, the amount of
oxygen injected (mL O2 consumed/1 minute)
was recorded.
The oxygen consumption per hour of the rat
was computed using the following equation:
(mL O2 consumed/1 min) x (60 minutes/hr)
=mL O2/hr
Lastly, the metabolic rate per kilogram of
body weight was computed using the
following equation:
Metabolic rate= (mL O2/hr)/(weight in kg)
=mL O2/kg/hr

Results and Discussion

weight of rat (kg)
mL O2/10 mins
mL O2/ min
mL O2/ hr
BMR

0.19
1.7
0.17
10.2
53.68

preparation of the set-up or in conducting

the experiment are probable reasons why the
results obtained were questionable.
Conclusion
References

Basal metabolic rate is an indicator of

thyroid function. Hypothyroidism or low
thyroid levels, is characterized by a BMR
that is less than 1600. Euthyroidism, or
normal thyroidism is characterized by a
BMR measure that ranges from 1650-1750.
Lastly, Hyperthyroidism, or high thyroid
levels, is characterized by a BMR that is
greater than 1800.

Becker, K. L. (2001). Principles and

practice of endocrinology and metabolism.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins.

Based on the results obtained from the actual

experiment, the rat is characterized to have
hypothyroidism. However, the BMR
calculated, which is 53.68, is abnormal and
extremely low compared to the values of the
ranges indicated. Therefore, the experiment
is deemed to be inconclusive. Errors in

Moyes, C. D., & Schulte, P. M. (2008).

Principles of animal physiology. San
Francisco,
CA:
Pearson/Benjamin
Cummings.

Endocrine System Physiology. (n.d.).

Retrieved February 25, 2016, from
http://helios.hampshire.edu/~cjgNS/sputtbug
/416K/Energy Reg/PhysioEx.pdf

Rushton, L. (2004). The endocrine system.

Philadelphia: Chelsea House.