A Novel Freely Moving Animal Based Blood Pressure, ECG, and Dual Body Temperature Telemetry System for Group Housed Mice in Social Context

Traditional rodent blood pressure (BP) monitoring required single housing, a known stressor for rodents. We developed a microprocessor based long range wireless telemetry system based on the Stellar™ technology with internal memory that allows rodents to live in groups, interact, exercise and be housed in large enriched environments. BP or ECG is recorded with a solid-state sensor along with core temperature and 3D activity. Heart rate was derived from BP and/or ECG in the Biopac AcqKnowledge 4.4.1 software. It is well established that rodent behavior is strongly influenced by social interaction. Moreover, spontaneous hierarchies develop in group housed animals and cardiovascular parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure reflect these conditions. Since animal experimentation most notably in neuroscience and behavior studies gravitate towards group housed colonies also for sake of animal welfare new technologies are needed to allow traditional measurements to be done in these new more refined resear...