FACTORS INFLUENCING ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF WHOLE SMALL ANIMAL BODIES

There are several indications that the measurement of electrical impedances of whole animal bodies might provide useful information concerning the physio-logical state of the animal, particularly with regard to the water and electrolyte content of the tissues. Such measurements have been used as a diagnostic tool in the study of thyroid disease, (Brazier, 1933; Barnett, 1937; Krepsky, 1950, for example. Unfortunately, most of the studies to date have been made on the human body, and there has been very little opportunity for study of the physical and physiological factors contributing to variations in these properties. The work to be described herein was done preliminary to making a series of measurements for the determination of the influence of endocrine factors on the electrical proper-ties of the body. It is apparent that the use of small animals for these studies would make possible studies on ablation of endocrine organs, injection of hormones, etc. Such studies are difficult to perform on humans. Also, such experiments can be per