Densitometry-based equations for estimating body composition in Fischer rats.

Male Fischer rats are widely used to evaluate the effects of nutritional repletion or deprivation on the rat's nutritional status. Practical methods are needed to evaluate changes in body composition. Chemical analysis is expensive, time consuming, and often not available; bioelectrical impedance analysis in laboratory animals lacks standardization. Postulating that the measurement of densitometry would allow reliable estimation of body composition in the male Fischer rat, we studied 27 male Fischer rats. Densitometric measurements of the carcasses and their chemical analysis were performed to obtain reference values. Initial estimation of the fraction of body fat based on densitometry was attempted with the Siri equation intended for use in humans. We found that this equation was not suitable for use in the male Fischer rat because it underestimated fat mass at high carcass weights and overestimated fat mass at low carcass weights. Therefore, the Siri equation was modified to more accurately predict carcass composition in the male Fischer rat. Three different predictive equations based on simple densitometric measurements were developed that allow separate estimation of carcass fat, carcass water, and carcass protein in the male Fischer rat. These equations were found to be accurate to within 2-5-3% of carcass weight.