A Simple Telemetry Sensor System for Monitoring Body Temperature in Rabbits-A Brief Report

Continuous body temperature measurement is an important means of studying inflammation and metabolic changes using experimental animals. Although expensive telemetry equipment for collecting multiple parameters is available for small animals, readily used devices for mediate- or large-sized animals are rather limited. In this study, we developed a new telemetry sensor system that can continuously monitor rabbit body temperature. The telemetry sensor was easily implanted subcutaneously in rabbits housed in the animal facility while temperature changes were continuously recorded by a personal computer. Temperature data obtained by the telemetry was consistent with the rectal temperature measured by a digital device. Analysis of body temperature changes of unstrained rabbits, either under the normal condition or fever induced by endotoxin confirms the reliability and usefulness of this system.

Automated summary

In this study, a new telemetry sensor system was developed to continuously monitor the body temperature of rabbits. The sensor was implanted subcutaneously and the temperature changes were recorded by a personal computer. The temperature data obtained from the telemetry system was consistent with the rectal temperature measured by a digital device. The analysis of body temperature changes confirmed the reliability and usefulness of this system, both in normal conditions and when fever was induced by endotoxin.