Exp. Anim. 26 (4), 323-329, 1977 Note Fluctuation and Distribution of Animal Room Temperature and the Temperature in Cages Joseph Akira YOSHIDA*, Tokutaro TAKAHASHI**, and Fumio *College of Science & Technology UEMURA**, Nikon University, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo and **Yakult Institute for Microbiological Research, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo (Received for publicatin: January 18, 1977) The temperature of various positions in an occupied animal room (mice, rats) including inside of cages were measured using a 50 channels thermal data recorder (step time 0.5 sec, 5 min intermittent through 24 hr and continuous) in a summer day. Any short periodical fluctuation of room temperature had practically no influence on the inside temperature of plastic cages. Against small diurnal flactuations, stable vertical gradients (about 1 Ž between tops and bottoms of racks) were observed amonng one hour averages of room air temperatures. Air temperature in the cage fluctuated in larger scale. (up to 3 Ž) For controlling animal room temperature, each of short periodical fractuation, diurnal change and spasal distribution should be separately concerrned.
324 Fig. 1. Thermal data recorder and sensor protector Fig. 2. Outline of animal room. Fig. 3. Distribution of sensors
Table 1. List of measured positions Fig. 5, Short period temperature fluctuations at outside (19) and inside (20) of a rat cage. (Fischer, 1 female adult and 12 of litter between 11 and 21 days) Fig. 4. Short period temperature fluctuations of outdoor air (00), room air (02), and air outlet (06). Fig. 6. Short period temperature fluctuations at outside (25) and inside (26) of a mice cage (BALB/c, 5 females between 3 and 6 Weeks)
00: Outdoor air 02: Thermostat 05 : Air intake (door grille) 06: Air outlet 19 : Outside of the cage 20: Inside of the cage Fig. 7. Diurnal pattern of temperature fluctuations of outdoor air, at thermostat, air intake, outside and inside of a rat cage (Fischer, l female adult and 12 of litter between 11 and 21 days)
Fig. 8. Diurnal patten of temperature fluctuations at outside of mice cages. 6 odd number sensors from (21) for the highest to (31) for the lowest cage. 22: CF 1, 1 male over 7 weeks (the highest) 24: CF 1, 1 female and 1 male over 7 weeks 26: BALB/c, 5 females between 3 and 6 weeks 28: C 57 BL, 1 female and 1 male over 7 weeks 30: C 57 BL, 1 female and 1 male over 7 weeks 32: ICR, 1 female and 1 male over 7 weeks Fig. 9. Diurnal pattern of temperature fluctuations at inside of mice cages.
Fig. 10. Diurnal pattern of temperature fluctuations at the centers of east side racks. Fig. 11. Diurnal pattern of temperature fluctuations at the centers of west side racks. Fig. 12. Temperature fluctuations at 5 points in a mice cage. (C 57 BL/6, 4 males over 7 weeks)
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