Thiocyanate space in growing domestic fowl

¹ Department of Physiology, New York State Veterinary College, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

The thiocyanate ion was used to measure the extracellular space of the growing chicken. The interstitial space and the intracellular space were calculated. The thiocyanate space was found to be 61.0% of body weight in the 1-week-old chick and 26.2% of body weight in the 32-week-old bird. The interstitial space was 52.3% of body weight in the 1-week-old bird and 21.7% of body weight in the mature hen. The intracellular space was 11.4% of body weight in the 1-week-old bird and 31.1% of body weight in the 32-week-old hen. The thiocyanate space and the interstitial space decreased with age. The intracellular space increased within the age range studied.