Indirect Calorimetry Systems

Sable Systems Promethion indirect calorimeter (24 cages)

  • food intake
  • water intake
  • in-cage body mass measurement
  • physical activity (infrared beam breaks)
  • energy expenditure
  • oxygen consumption (VO2)
  • carbon dioxide production (VCO2)
  • respiratory exchange ratio – an indicator of carbohydrate or fat substrate oxidation
  • wheels for voluntary running
  • food access control gates for timed fast/feeding and pair feeding studies
  • environmental temperature-controlled (4°C to 38°C)
  • environmental light control for circadian studies (light/dark, dark/dark, dark/light)
  • telemetry receivers to record body temperature and heart rate (DSI or STARR TELEMETRY)
  • continuous glucose monitoring (DSI) for up to 8 mice
  • isotopic analyzer to measure in vivo whole body oxidation rates of substrates (e.g. 13C-glucose or 18O-glucose) into 13CO2 or C18O2 for up to 8 mice
  • sterile isolator cages for measurement of germ-free mice or with defined populations of microbes (gnotobiotic mice) in collaboration and coordination with the Massachusetts Host-Microbiome Center
A Promethian home cage with a smooth cage bottom, bedding, running wheel, food and drink hoppers, and a body weight sensor (in red). Activity is monitored by an infrared beam manifold in black around the perimeter of the cage.

Columbus Instruments CLAMS indirect calorimeter (16 cages)

  • physical activity (infrared beam breaks)
  • food intake
  • energy expenditure
  • oxygen consumption (VO2)
  • carbon dioxide production (VCO2)
  • respiratory exchange ratio – an indicator of carbohydrate or fat substrate oxidation
  • voluntary wheel running
  • environmental temperature-controlled (4°C to 38°C)
  • environmental light control for circadian studies (light/dark, dark/dark, dark/light)
  • telemetry receivers to record body temperature and heart rate (STARR telemetry bases)
  • sterile isolator cages for measurement of germ-free mice or with defined populations of microbes (gnotobiotic mice) in collaboration and coordination with the Massachusetts Host-Microbiome Center
The CLAMS can monitor 16 cages simultaneously. Cages have a perforated cage floor, and a center-mounted food hopper (not shown). Activity is monitored by an infrared beam manifold in black around the perimeter of the cage.