Measuring the

temperature of
mice

One factor that can affect a

temperature of a mice
-In-cage temperature is influenced by
factors including cage design and
construction, the position of a cage
within a rack and room, the position
of the cage within the flow of air
and presence and type of
bedding and nesting materials.

Things mice do regarding their

temperature
They maintain their core body
temperature by a range of
mechanisms including varying
metabolic rate, shivering, increased
physical activity, grooming
(spreading saliva on fur for
evaporative heat loss) and
thermotropism including
huddling with cohabitants.

Different
methods in
measuring the
temperature of
a mice

1. Traditional
Method
- Conventionally the core body
temperature of mice has been
measured by the insertion of a
thermometer into the anus of the
mouse.
- It is stressful to mice and extremely time
consuming.

2. Infrared
Thermometer
- was designed to measure cutaneous
temperature of small rodents very fast
and contactless.

Infrared Thermometer
- Infrared temperature measurement
consists in the detection of the quantity
of light emitted by the measured object the optical signal received by the sensor
being then converted into an electrical
signal.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
- measurement taken in the animal fur
may include the ambient air caught in
the hair, thus creating important
measurement variations. It's therefore
advisable to measure on naked surfaces,
like skin, tail, nose, genital area.

3. Transponders
- These are small chips and these are
positioned either subcuteneously or
intraperitoneally using an inserter
provided with the chips. The temperature
and chip identifier are then read using a
portable reader.

This is what it looks

like:

Disadvantage:
- The initial insertion of the microchip is
stressful to mice.
- Infection around the device either during
insertion of the chip or as a deviceassociated infection established after the
mice are infected in experimental
protocols.

4. Radiotelemetry
Transmitters
- It is implanted inside a mice.
- Enables data to be collected from
conscious and untethered animals.
- Measurements can be conducted even
in freely moving animals, and without
requiring the investigator to be in the
proximity of the animal.

Radiotelemetry
Transmitters
- By using this method, it is now possible
to gather data continuously and/or for
longer periods of time from animals
residing in their own familiar environment,
thus minimizing their stress.

It looks like this after

implantation: