Time-dependent changes in electrical resistance of the intact trunk, thorax and abdomen of rats during the first 21 days post mortem.

Electrical resistance of the intact trunk, thorax and abdomen was determined sequentially in each of eight rat cadavers maintained at constant temperature. All electrodes applied to each cadaver were left in situ for the duration of the 21-day postmortem period. Trunk, thoracic and abdominal resistances increased (on average) from 337 +/- 31, 174 +/- 27 and 163 +/- 22 omega 1 h after death, to peak values of 567 +/- 46, 333 +/- 36 and 254 +/- 33 omega at 2, 3 and 1 days post mortem, respectively. Thereafter, all resistances decreased progressively with increasing time since death, reaching values of 294 +/- 39 omega (trunk), 173 +/- 33 omega (thorax) and 121 +/- 19 omega (abdomen) at 21 days post mortem. These changes are believed to reflect progressive postmortem decreases in the resistivities of the body segments studied.