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Updated: Apr 26, 2026

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice
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Behaviorally mediated, warm adaptation: a physiological strategy when mice behaviorally thermoregulate.

Christopher J Gordon1, Cenk Aydin2, Elizabeth A Repasky3

  • 1Toxicity Assessment Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.

Journal of Thermal Biology
|August 4, 2014
PubMed
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Laboratory mice in standard conditions experience cold stress. Allowing mice to choose their preferred temperature in a thermocline leads to warm adaptation, altering organ development and tail length.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Laboratory Animal Science

Background:

  • Standard laboratory vivarium temperatures (~22°C) are below the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) for mice, potentially causing cold stress.
  • Mice housed below their TNZ may exhibit altered physiological development compared to those housed within their TNZ.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of thermoregulatory behavior on organ development and tail length in mice.
  • To determine if prolonged exposure to a thermocline induces adaptive changes in mice.

Main Methods:

  • BALB/c mice were housed in a thermocline (23-39°C) or isothermal runways (22°C) for 73 days.
  • Organ mass (heart, lung, liver, kidney, brain) and tail length were measured.
  • Experimental groups were compared to cage control mice housed under standard conditions.
Keywords:
Ambient temperatureBehavioral thermoregulationDevelopmentGrowthKidneyLiverTail

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Main Results:

  • Mice in the thermocline exhibited reduced liver and kidney mass and increased tail length compared to isothermal and cage controls.
  • Thermocline-housed mice spent time in warmer areas with minimal nest building, indicating thermal comfort.
  • Isothermal-housed mice built nests and huddled, suggesting they were cold-stressed.

Conclusions:

  • Thermoregulatory behavior in a thermocline promotes 'behaviorally mediated, warm adaptation' in mice.
  • Standard vivarium temperatures may induce cold stress, impacting normal organ development.
  • Allowing animals to select their thermal preferendum is crucial for accurate physiological studies.