THE VARIATION WITH BODY WEIGHT OF THE WATER-BINDING PROPERTIES OF COMMON CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Abstract

A standard volume of saline was introduced at standard pressure into the reflected subcutaneous tissues in 79 male albino rats, forming gelatinous bullae. The rate at which the saline was lost from the bullae after it had been dissected free was estimated by periodic weighings, and a velocity constant of this rate was derived. There was found to be a linear relationship between this constant and the weight of the animal. It is believed that the injected saline combines with the connective tissue, and that the alteration with body weight of the rate of loss of the saline subsequent to the injection is an expression of the change of the water-binding ability of this tissue.