PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Physiology

The Biology of the Guinea Pig, Page: 63-98
1976
  • 14
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 0
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    14
    • Citation Indexes
      14
      • CrossRef
        14

Book Chapter Description

This chapter presents the physiology of guinea pigs. It provides a comprehensive review of three of the more intensively reported areas of guinea pig physiology—hematological, cardiovascular, and reproductive. Studies of normal parameters and facets of function in the guinea pig are largely piecemeal. There are relatively few reports which have as their principal goal the elucidation of physiological norms for guinea pig. Most available normative data are ancillary to disease-oriented studies. The chapter discusses the potentially useful information from a comparative view, especially relative to guinea pig as a model for human disease. Guinea pig has been used extensively in hematological studies; consequently, there is considerable data on cellular elements, physiological properties, and biochemical characteristics of circulating blood and bone marrow. The guinea pig is particularly well suited for the studies in reproductive physiology because of easy handling, distinct signs of estrus, and behavior related fairly distinct to physical changes in the reproductive tract. Of all the small laboratory mammals, the guinea pig reproductive system most resembles man in that it has a long cycle, ovulates spontaneously, and has an actively secreting corpus luteum. Under laboratory conditions, domestic guinea pigs are polyestrous, nonseasonal breeders, although slight seasonal variations in reproductive performance have been reported. Guinea pig atria are frequently used for physiological and pharmacological studies of action potential, contraction strength, and their interrelationships.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know