Body weights, tail lengths, body temperatures, food intakes, & some slaughter data for four strains of mice reared at three different environmental temperatures

摘要

Abstract Four strains of mice which differed in body weight and tail length and the relationship between these two characteristics were reared from 23 to 44 days of age at three environmental temperatures (7 ± l°c, 21 ± 2°c, and 30 ± 3°c), to investigate the importance and interactions of body weight and tail length in heat regulation and growth. In the first experiment body weights, tail lengths, and body temperatures were measured; in the second experiment body weights, weights of tail, pelt, hair, and total body fat, tail lengths, and food intakes were measured. Body weight was more important than tail length for heat regulation in the cold environment (7°c). The two low-body-weight strains had a higher death rate than mice of the high-body-weight strains, and also had lower body temperatures during the early period of exposure. The tail was important for heat regulation in the hot environment (30°c), at least during the early period of exposure, as the two long-tail strains showed a smaller rise in bo...