The heat is on: A device that reduces cold stress-induced tachycardia in laboratory mice.

Mouse vivaria are typically maintained at an ambient temperature (T) of 20-26 °C which is comfortable for human researchers. However, as this T is well below the mouse thermoneutral zone (TNZ) of 30-32 °C, typical vivarium temperatures result in cold stress for mice. Recently, a cage has been developed that provides variable cage floor heating, allowing mice to behaviorally regulate body temperature through thermotaxis.