Establishing A Mouse Model for Respiratory Tract Extreme Low-temperature Air Inhalation

Summary

Cold environmental stimulation has been implicated in the development of various chronic diseases. Therefore, establishing animal models for preclinical research is crucial. This system addresses this need by offering a device that creates a stimulus model, meeting the requirements for basic research on pathogenic mechanisms.

Abstract

Currently, constructing a mouse model for cold environmental stimulation employs cold-heat plates and wearable cooling devices. These methods can partially fulfill the requirements for studying the responses and regulatory effects of mouse skin or neural circuits to cold stimulation. Numerous clinical studies have substantiated the correlation between exposure to low-temperature environments and the development of various diseases. Recently, there has been a growing emphasis on the continuous exchange of information between organs and tissues, providing a novel perspective on addressing longstanding issues within the human body. However, existing installations are unable to construct a model for mice inhaling cold air.

Although placing mice in a cold environment seems attractive, it has considerable limitations. While mice inhale cold air, their skin is also being stimulated by the cold environment, making it unclear whether resulting pathological changes are due to lung stimulation through the interaction of distant organs or due to the skin receptors and neural signal transmission. This creates considerable confusion in related research. This scheme presents a new approach for constructing a mouse model for extreme cold air inhalation stimulation. This device allows mice to inhale extremely low-temperature gases while their bodies remain at a normal temperature. It maximizes the simulation of the stimulating effects of extreme ambient temperatures on mice and meets the research needs for studying the relationship between extreme environmental temperatures and related diseases.

Introduction

This method primarily provides an extremely low-temperature air stimulation model in mice using a non-invasive, standardized, stable, and batch semiconductor refrigeration temperature feedback device. Clinical experiments related to low temperatures have confirmed a close relationship with the incidence and prognosis of various diseases. A time-series study involving 272 major cities in China obtained a total of 1,826,186 cases of non-accidental deaths. The relationship between temperature and mortality consistently indicates an inverted J-shaped curve, with the phase of high mortality rates due to cold being significantly longer than other temperatures. This suggests....

Protocol

The Experimental Animal Ethics Committee has approved all procedures involving animal subjects at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University.

1. Assembly of device

NOTE: See Figure 1 for the device components.

1. Use metal connectors to secure two sets of brass shells to two sets of semiconductor cooling chips. Apply thermally conductive silicone grease between the brass shell and the semiconductor cooling chip.
2. Apply thermal grease between the brass shell and the semiconductor cooling chip.
3. Connect two groups of fans in e....

Results

We can observe the overall construction of this device, which includes a semiconductor refrigeration chip, thermally conductive silicone grease, a gas collection jar, a temperature controller, a fan, a water cooling circulation system, a mouse fixator, and a power adapter. A single unit can simultaneously accommodate the modeling needs of up to 16 mice (Figure 1A,B). The gas collection jar, water cooling circulation system, semiconductor refrigeration chip, fan, and mouse fi.......

Discussion

In constructing a low-temperature stimulation model, several key steps and precautions are necessary to ensure the accuracy of the experiment and the welfare of the animals. Use an ice-water mixture instead of room-temperature water to maintain a low-temperature state of the cooling water throughout the experiment, which helps simulate extremely low-temperature environments. Ensure that the recirculating cooling water system is unobstructed to ensure the efficient operation of the refrigeration system. When preparing an .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
brass shell	Shenzhen Haida high-tech electronic equipment company
cistern	Shenzhen Gongdecheng plastic industry
fan	ChaoJingYin electoronic.,LTD	4010	12 V
Gas collection jar	Shenzhen Gongdecheng plastic industry
intake/outlet pipe	Shanghai Shenchen rubber and plastic products factory
mouse fixator	Lanjieke technology
power	Shenzhen Haida high-tech electronic equipment company		12 V 40 A
Semiconductor cooling chip	Shenzhen Haida high-tech electronic equipment company	TEC2-19006	Double layer refrigeration
Sponge plug	Shenzhen Gongdecheng plastic industry
Stainless steel fastener	Shenzhen Haida high-tech electronic equipment company
thermally conductive silicone grease	Shenzhen Haida high-tech electronic equipment company	DRG102
water pump	Shenzhen Jutai pump Co.,LTD	DC005	12 V
Water pump power adapter	Chaoke power adapter factory	1210	100-240 V 50-60 HZ 12 V