Relationship between bodyweight and spleen size in guinea-pigs

The normal weight, width, length and area of the guinea-pig spleen and their corresponding relationships to bodyweight were studied. A total of 224 males and 229 females were selected at weights ranging from 150 to 1000 g. Females had significantly larger and heavier spleens than males, but exhibited greater individual variation in spleen weight, width and length. The width and/or length of the spleen presented the smallest coefficients of variation, suggesting the feasibility of using these parameters together with the calculated base line to establish whether a spleen comes from a normal guinea-pig or from an animal having an infection causing splenomegaly.