Effect of Bedding Substrates on Blood Glucose and Body Weight in Mice.

Differences in cage microenvironments may contribute to variation in data and affect the outcome of animal studies involving metabolic diseases. To study this, we compared the effects 3 types of bedding-corncob bedding, hardwood bedding, and hardwood bedding plus a cardboard enrichment item-on baseline fasting and nonfasting blood glucose and body weight in mice. Mice housed on corncob bedding showed significantly higher fasting blood glucose than did mice housed on hardwood bedding, with or without the enrichment item.