Abstract
The lungs of 16 shrews from 8 species ( Sorex minutus, Neomys fodiens, Suncus etruscus, Crocidura russula, C. juvenetae, C. poensis, C. flavescens, C. giffardi) ranging in body weight from 2.2 to 100 g were studied by morphometry in order to compare the structural diffusion capacity for oxygen. D L O 2 , with the oxygen consumption, V̇ O 2 , measured on the same animals. V̇ O 2 was determined by short term measurements using a respirometer. D L O 2 was estimated morphometrically. Both parameters demonstrated good coincidence in their allometric behaviour, establishing further progress in structure-function relationship in the respiratory apparatus. Whereas V̇ O 2 as well as D L O 2 of shrews with a body weight W > 5 g follow the same allometric function established for mammals in general, the values for shrews with W < 5 g exhibit significantly higher values. It appears that the pulmonary gas exchange parenchyma of these smallest mammals is well suited to supply the organism with the comparatively high levels of O 2 required by the high metabolic rates, exhibiting a structural adaptation of the lung to higher V̇ O 2 .
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