Root M V, Johnston S D, Olson P N
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Am J Vet Res. 1996 Mar;57(3):371-4.
To use indirect calorimetry to compare heat production between gonadectomized and sexually intact male and female cats.
Male (n = 6) and female (n = 6) kittens were gonadectomized at 7 weeks or 7 months of age, or left sexually intact. Body heat production was measured by indirect calorimetry in all cats at 12, 18, and 24 months of age.
18 male and 18 female clinically normal domestic shorthair cats.
Heat production was measured, using an open-circuit, respiratory, indirect calorimeter. All cats underwent calorimetry at 12, 18, and 24 months of age. The heat coefficient, a measure of resting metabolic rate, was calculated for each cat at each test; heat coefficient is defined as logarithm of heat (kcal/h) divided by logarithm of body weight (kg).
Heat production did not vary with age in male or female cats. Heat coefficient was higher in sexually intact male and female cats than in gonadectomized male and female cats at 12, 18, and 24 months of age (12 months, females, P < 0.01, males, P = 0.04; 18 months, females, P < 0.01, males, P = 0.02; and 24 months, females and males, P < 0.01).
These data suggest that resting metabolic rate in cats decreases after gonadectomy.
A decrease in metabolic rate is synonymous with a decrease in caloric requirements. Gonadectomized animals fed in a manner similar to sexually intact animals may be predisposed to obesity and its sequelae.
采用间接测热法比较去势和未去势的雄性及雌性猫的产热情况。
雄性（n = 6）和雌性（n = 6）小猫在7周龄或7月龄时进行去势，或保持性成熟状态。所有猫在12、18和24月龄时通过间接测热法测量身体产热。
18只雄性和18只雌性临床正常的家养短毛猫。
使用开路呼吸间接热量计测量产热。所有猫在12、18和24月龄时进行热量测定。计算每只猫每次测试时的热系数，热系数是静息代谢率的一种度量；热系数定义为热量（千卡/小时）的对数除以体重（千克）的对数。
雄性或雌性猫的产热不随年龄变化。在12、18和24月龄时，性成熟的雄性和雌性猫的热系数高于去势的雄性和雌性猫（12月龄，雌性，P < 0.01，雄性，P = 0.04；18月龄，雌性，P < 0.01，雄性，P = 0.02；24月龄，雌性和雄性，P < 0.01）。
这些数据表明猫去势后静息代谢率降低。
代谢率降低等同于热量需求减少。以与性成熟动物相似的方式喂养去势动物可能易患肥胖症及其后遗症。
