Table 1.
General morphological data
| Young adults | Middle aged | ANOVA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorax length (cm) | 4.4 ± 0.1 | 5.8 ± 0.1 | p < 0.001 |
| Abdomen length (cm) | 9.8 ± 0.1 | 9.8 ± 0.4 | NS |
| Total length (cm) | 14.2 ± 0.1 | 15.6 ± 0.4 | p < 0.001 |
| Relative thorax length (%) | 31 ± 1 | 38 ± 1 | p < 0.001 |
| Relative abdomen length (%) | 69 ± 1 | 62 ± 1 | p < 0.001 |
| Animal weight (g) | 323 ± 5 | 444 ± 33 | p < 0.001 |
| Heart dry weight (mg) | 204 ± 6 | 262 ± 8 | p < 0.001 |
| Relative heart weight (mg/kg) | 634 ± 19 | 612 ± 5 | NS |
Thorax length was measured from the insertion of the collarbones on the sternum to the apex of the sternum. Abdomen length was determined by measuring the distance from the apex of the sternum to the penis. Total length was the sum of the thorax and abdominal lengths. Relative heart weight was the ratio between heart dry weight and animal weight. The number of experiments was ten per group
ANOVA analysis of variance, NS not significant