Measurement of the body composition of living gray seals by hydrogen isotope dilution

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Applied Physiology (1985); (USA)

OSTI ID:6276013

Reilly, J J; Fedak, M A ^[1]

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1. Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge (England)

The body composition of living gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) can be accurately predicted from a two-step model that involves measurement of total body water (TBW) by {sup 2}H or {sup 3}H dilution and application of predictive relationships between body components and TBW that were derived empirically by slaughter chemical analysis. TBW was overestimated by both {sup 2}HHO and {sup 3}HHO dilution; mean overestimates were 2.8 +/- 0.9% (SE) with 2H and 4.0 +/- 0.6% with {sup 3}H. The relationships for prediction of total body fat (TBF), protein (TBP), gross energy (TBGE), and ash (TBA) were as follows: %TBF = 105.1 - 1.47 (%TBW); %TBP = 0.42 (%TBW) - 4.75; TBGE (MJ) = 40.8 (mass in kg) - 48.5 (TBW in kg) - 0.4; and TBA (kg) = 0.1 - 0.008 (mass in kg) + 0.05 (TBW in kg). These relationships are applicable to gray seals of both sexes over a wide range of age and body conditions, and they predict the body composition of gray seals more accurately than the predictive equations derived from ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and from the equation of Pace and Rathbun, which has been reported to be generally applicable to mammals.

• OSTI ID: 6276013
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physiology (1985); (USA), Vol. 69:3; ISSN 8750-7587
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MAMMALS
BODY COMPOSITION
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DEUTERIUM
FAT CELLS
ISOTOPE DILUTION
METABOLISM
PROTEINS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SOMATIC CELLS
STABLE ISOTOPES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques