The use of infrared technology as a novel approach for studies with female laboratory animals

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Martina Ratko
• Author: Nikola Habek
• Author: Milan Kordić
• Author: Aleksandra Dugandžić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Croatian Institiute for Brain Research)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Physiology and Immunology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Neurology
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Human Physiology

Abstract (english)

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-month-old 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 (english): Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism; Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Estrous Cycle / physiology; Estrus / physiology; Female; Infrared Rays; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Proestrus / physiology; Skin Temperature / physiology; Thermography / methods
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Croatian Medical Journal
• Numbering: vol. 61, no. 4, pp. 346-363
• p-ISSN: 0353-9504
• e-ISSN: 1332-8166
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2020.61.346
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:314489
• Publication: 2020-08-31
• Document URL: http://www.cmj.hr/2020/61/4/32881433.htm
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-10-29 12:26:34