Water, nitrogen and lipides content of tissues of Varanus griseus, Daud

Abstract

1. The contents of water, nitrogen and lipides of the different tissues of Varanus griseus Daud. are given. 2. The values of water and nitrogen content of a tissue were found to be more or less constant if calculated on fat-free basis. 3. Body fluids were found to contain the highest content of water. Nuclear tissues—with the exception of skin—were found to contain more water than the anuclear ones. 4. Liver, kidney and muscles—being depots of proteins—contain comparatively high nitrogen content. 5. The presence of a thick horny layer in skin is responsible for the noticed high nitrogen content and low water content of that tissue. 6. The most actively metabolic tissues represented by the heart, brain and spinal cord possess the highest and most constant contents of water and lipides but have a comparatively lower content of nitrogen. 7. Nearly all tissues of Varanus are higher in their contents of water and proteins but lower in fat content than corresponding tissues of mammals.