Housing temperature significantly influences energy and glucose homeostasis in the mouse. For mice, thermoneutrality (approximately 30°C) represents the temperatre at which no additional energy must be expended beyond basal metabolic rate to maintain euthermia.
Housing mice within their thermoneutral zone may improve the applicability of murine studies to human metabolic disease [1]. Currently normal mouse housing conditions are 22°C.
- An ambient temperature and light-controlled environmental enclosure DB034-LT Laboratory Incubator, Darwin Chambers Company, St Louis, MO allows for mouse housing at temperatures between 4 - 34°C.