Original scientific paper
The use of infrared technology as a novel approach for studies with female laboratory animals
Martina Ratko
; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Nikola Habek
; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Milan Kordić
; MKP Ltd., Zagreb, Croatia
Aleksandra Dugandžić
; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To determine the changes in skin temperature and
brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity throughout the estrous
cycle as well as the regularity of the estrous cycle in mice.
Methods We assessed the differences in the duration of
the estrous cycle and its phases between 3- and 8-monthold female mice (n=18). Skin temperature and BAT activity were measured by infrared technology and compared
with human menstrual cycle.
Results Young and old female mice did not differ significantly in the estrous cycle length. However, young animals
had longer diestrus and shorter proestrus phase. In contrast with women, mice showed age-dependent changes
in body temperature and BAT activity during the estrus cycle.
Conclusion Establishing the pattern of temperature and
BAT activity changes could be used to determine the estrous cycle phase before performing experiments without
disturbing the animal. However, since the regulation of
BAT activity during the estrous cycle was age-dependent,
very complex, and varied significantly from women, further studies are needed to develop a non-invasive method
for determining the phase of the estrous cycle.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
274620
URI
Publication date:
31.8.2020.
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