Abstract
Abstract
Measurement of total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) has been used to estimate lean and fat content of meat based on the principle that electrical conductivity of lean tissue is far greater than that of fat. This approach was used to estimate body composition of live rats. An instrument designed for commercial analysis of ground meat (DjMe 100) was used to measure TOBEC in 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats (197-433 g). Individual TOBEC values were obtained in 20 seconds and repeated twice for each rat. The animals were then killed with ether, hair was shaved, lungs collapsed and body density measured hydrostatically. Carcasses were homogenized and analyzed for fat, nitrogen, and water. A high correlation was found between TOBEC and lean body mass by densitometry (r = .97) and between TOBEC and fat-free mass derived from direct carcass analysis (r = .97). Rats weighing up to 450 g could be accommodated in this particular instrument. Measurement of TOBEC should prove useful in estimating body composition and monitoring its changes in live rats and other small laboratory animals.
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