Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
07:56
Measuring Skeletal Muscle Thermogenesis in Mice and Rats
Published on: July 27, 2022
3.4K
A novel method for measuring diet-induced thermogenesis in mice
Tomomi Yamazaki1, Reina Ikaga1, Dongyang Li1,2
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8636, Japan.
Methodsx
|November 1, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to measure diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) in mice. This technique helps study obesity by quantifying energy expenditure after food consumption, crucial for weight management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic physiology
- Obesity research
- Animal models
Background:
- Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is energy expenditure (EE) from food consumption.
- Increasing DIT can aid weight loss and reduce body mass.
- Accurate DIT measurement in mice is lacking, hindering obesity research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a method for measuring absolute DIT values in mice.
- To adapt human DIT measurement techniques for murine models.
- To facilitate research into obesity interventions targeting DIT.
Main Methods:
- Measured mouse energy metabolism under fasting and ad libitum feeding conditions.
- Utilized linear regression of EE against the square root of activity count.
- Calculated DIT by subtracting predicted EE from fed EE at identical activity levels.
Main Results:
- A novel methodology for absolute DIT measurement in mice was successfully established.
- In mice, DIT accounted for 12.3% of calorie intake.
- DIT represented 21.7% of total energy expenditure in the studied mice.
Conclusions:
- The developed methodology enables precise DIT quantification in mice.
- This technique is a valuable tool for investigating obesity and developing anti-obesity strategies.
- Further research can leverage this method to explore factors influencing DIT and its role in metabolic health.
