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Under Control? Mouse Models of Heat Exposure: A Systematic Review of Experimental Design and Methodology

Mouse models are widely used to study heat-related physiological responses as they provide insights relevant to human health. However, species differences (including nocturnal behavior) and standard housing below the thermoneutral zone (TNZ; 26°C-34°C) can confound comparisons. This systematic review evaluates methodologies, including housing temperatures, used in mouse heat-exposure studies published over the past 4 years. 

Citation:
Rhaman AH, Kardol LR, Maloney SK, Quintrell E, Sorial E, et al. Under Control? Mouse Models of Heat Exposure: A Systematic Review of Experimental Design and Methodology. Acta Physiol. 2026;242(8). 

Keywords:
Experimental design; heat exposure; mouse models; systematic review; thermal stress; thermoregulation.

Abstract:
Mouse models are widely used to study heat-related physiological responses as they provide insights relevant to human health. However, species differences (including nocturnal behavior) and standard housing below the thermoneutral zone (TNZ; 26°C-34°C) can confound comparisons. This systematic review evaluates methodologies, including housing temperatures, used in mouse heat-exposure studies published over the past 4 years.