AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 241, Issue 5 419-R422, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Total body sodium, calcium, and chloride measured chemically and by neutron activation in guinea pigs
H. P. Sheng, R. A. Huggins, C. Garza, H. J. Evans, A. D. LeBlanc, B. L. Nichols and P. C. Johnson
Body sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and chloride (Cl) of guinea pigs weighing
between 227 and 600 g were measured by total body neutron activation
analysis (TBNAA) followed by chemical analysis (CA) on 12-17 animals.
Paired t test was used to compare any differences in the results obtained
by the two methods. There was no significant difference in the results for
the three elements. The means and standard deviation for Ca (g/100 g body
wt) 1.070 +/- 0.132 (TBNAA) and 1.107 +/- 0.125 (CA); for Na 0.149 +/-
0.019 (TBNAA) and 0.143 +/- 0.021 (CA); and for Cl 0.126 +/- 0.009 (TBNAA)
and 0.132 +/- 0.024 (CA). Neutron activation analysis alone, in a series of
27 animals, gave means (g/100 g body wt) and standard deviation of 1.110
+/- 0.084 for Ca, 0.120 +/- 0.009 for Cl, and 0.153 +/- 0.011 for Na. TBNAA
has potential usefulness, particularly in longitudinal studies in the same
animal, because of its accuracy and the rapidity and ease with which the
measurements can be made.
