The Influence of the Aging Process on the Distribution of Certain Components of the Blood and the Gastrocnemius Muscle of the Albino Rat

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Abstract
In experiments with albino rats, it has been shown that the water content of a muscle increases rapidly up to the period of maturity, but remains fairly constant through that period on to old age, contrary to some current theories that the water content decreases during a life time and thus contributes to the changes of old age. Albino rats were used because the organs are sufficiently large to afford analytical samples that will yield accurate values by modern methods. These rats were all subjected to the same conditions. There is an initial rapid increase in the water content of the gastrocnemius muscle which reaches comparatively stable levels by the 60th day of life. Desiccation does not occur during the last stages of the aging process, nor is there any change in the sugar blood, or lactate in the muscle as a result of aging. The concentration of creatine follows a pattern of change similar to that found for water, although at a somewhat slower rate. Additional data regarding tissues as they are influenced by the aging process is needed before a complete correlation can be made between the chemical alterations in tissue and the aging of both the tissue and the organism.

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