THE MEASUREMENT OF EXCHANGEABLE SODIUM AND TOTAL-BODY SODIUM IN RATS INVIVO COMPARED WITH CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS POSTMORTEM

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 102  (1) , 140-146
Abstract
Measurements of body Na content in rats were made in vivo by either neutron activation analysis or the use of the radioisotope 22Na. The results were compared with estimates of total body Na measured by chemical analysis of the carcases. Neutron activation analysis provided an accurate measure of total body Na content. Exchangeable Na, measured with 22Na, was consistently and quantitatively lower than total body Na content. Each of these methods may be useful in the study of body Na content in small animals during growth and during the evolution of experimental hypertension.