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Translating Research from Animal Models: Does It Matter that Our Rodents are So Cold?
Citation:
Maloney, S., A. Fuller, D. Mitchell, C. Gordon, AND M. Overton. Translating Research from Animal Models: Does It Matter that Our Rodents are So Cold? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY. American Physiological Society, Bethesda, MD, 29(6):413-20, (2014).
Impact/Purpose:
This is a review paper that addresses the issues of the thermal comfort of mice. Mice have now become the predominate test species in physiology,pharmacology,and toxicology. Understanding the fundamental of their thermalphysiology is critical for the translation of toxicological data from mouse to human. This invited article comprised of a panel of international experts,attempts to tackle this problem.
Description:
Does it matter that preclinical rodent models are routinely housed below their thermoneutral zone and are thereby cold-stressed? We compile evidence showing that rodents housed below their thermoneutral zone are cold-stressed, hypermetalbolic, hypertensive, sleep-deprived, obesity-resistant, fever-resistant, tumour-resistant, and ageing-resistant compared to mice housed at thermoneutrality. The same genotype of mouse has a very different resting phenotype and response to physiologic or pharmacologic intervention when raised below or at thermoneutrality.