INFLUÊNCIA DE DIFERENTES TIPOS DE ELETRODOS SOBRE OS VALORES DA BIOIMPEDÂNCIA CORPORAL E NA ESTIMATIVA DE MASSA MAGRA (MM) EM GATOS ADULTOS

The bioelectrical impedance is a method that applies impedance technology in the study of physical composition by evaluation of electrical conductivity difference on each organism tissue. The results of bioelectrical impedance (BIC) are expressed by the resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) primary measures. This study was carried out to verify the viability of the use of three different electrodes on the repeatability of R and Xc values in adult cats. The averages of R and Xc estimated by adhesive and acupuncture needles did not differ from each other (p?0.05) and the smaller values of the variation coefficient acquired with these electrodes signaled for a better reproducibility of the results when compared with hypodermic needle. The different types of electrode did not interfere on the LBM estimated by specific equation, but the acupuncture needle electrode was the most stable and easily applicable. The LBM values determined with the different types of electrode were higher (p?0.05) than the LBM dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) values, probably due to the specific equation to LBM estimation used in this study. KEY WORDS: Body composition, feline, impedance, lean body mass.