title: Plethysmography measurements of respiratory function in conscious unrestrained mice.
abstract: Whole body plethysmography (WBP) is used to quantify pulmonary function in conscious, unrestrained mice. We determined currently whether time of day and environmental lighting influence day-to-day reproducibility of pulmonary function, and quantifed the necessary habituation time in the WBP chamber. Two-month-old male C57BL6 and mdx mice (n = 8/group, reverse light cycle), were examined on consecutive days using a calibrated WBP chamber and manufacturer software was used to calculate respiratory measures. Respiratory data stabilized between 5-10 min for all variables. Mice exhibited time of day respiratory differences, performing more forceful and less frequent breaths midday (11:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.) compared to 7:30 a.m. WBP performed in darkened conditions elicited more forceful breathing than lit conditions. Day-to-day reproducibility during controlled conditions ranged from r(2) = 0.58 to 0.62 for the functional measures. Findings indicate reproducible respiratory data are obtainable following a 15-min chamber habituation and standardization of time of day and room lighting.
authors.affiliation: Cardioprotection Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36830, USA. jcq0001@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Quindry
authors.affiliation: Cardioprotection Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36830, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ballmann
authors.affiliation: Cardioprotection Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36830, USA.
authors.forename: Erin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.affiliation: Animal Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Selsby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Mdx; Respiration; Whole body plethysmography