A Treadmill-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Hot Flashes with Continuous Skin Temperature Monitoring

Summary

This study establishes a mouse model of menopausal hot flashes by combining ovariectomy with exercise-induced thermogenesis and continuous high-resolution tail skin temperature monitoring.

Abstract

Hot flashes significantly impair the quality of life in menopausal women, yet the underlying neural mechanisms and effective therapies remain poorly understood. A major challenge in this field has been the lack of reliable animal models and non-invasive methods for continuous skin temperature monitoring. Here, a mouse model combining ovariectomy with exercise-induced thermogenesis was developed to study hot flashes. Using a telemetric logger secured by a 3D-printed tail sleeve, tail skin temperature was continuously monitored in a stress-free state. Additionally, infrared cameras provided a complementary method to monitor heat production and dissipation, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of body temperature. Using this model, ovariectomized mice were found exhibiting higher skin temperature increases and lower core body temperature, effectively mimicking the hot flash phenotype observed in menopause. This approach establishes a precise model for hot flash monitoring and will be valuable for researchers in thermoregulation, neuroscience, and clinical menopausal studies.

Introduction

Hot flashes are among the most prevalent and disruptive symptoms of menopause, significantly impairing quality of life¹. These episodes are characterized by a sudden surge in skin temperature followed by a transient drop in core body temperature², often accompanied by increased heart rate, anxiety, and dizziness³. Despite their profound impact, effective treatments remain limited⁴, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of their underlying mechanisms.

A critical step in studying hot flashes is the development of reliable animal models t....

Protocol

These methods were designed for mouse models. Mice studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University (2021JS0040). Prior to the implementation of the protocol, animals were housed in conformance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. In this study, 8- to 10-week-old female C57BL/6J mice, weighing 20-23 g, were housed under standard conditions (12:12 h light-dark cycle, 22 °C ± 1 °C, 50% ± 10% humidity). The details of the reagents and the equipment used are listed in the Table of Materials.

1. Experimental preparation

1. Prepar....

Results

Development of a reliable thermoregulatory monitoring system

To establish a reliable model for measuring core and skin temperature, a custom 3D-printed tail sleeve was designed to securely attach a temperature logger 1 cm from the base of the tail (Figure 1A), enabling continuous and precise measurement of heat dissipation during exercise-triggered hot flashes.

Discussion

This study establishes a practical and quantitative mouse model for investigating menopausal hot flashes, addressing a critical gap in the field. The integration of ovariectomy with exercise-induced thermogenesis successfully recapitulates core features of human hot flashes, namely, a rapid rise in tail skin temperature followed by a decline in core body temperature¹⁸. This model combines and extends the strengths of existing approaches by amplifying temperature variations and allowing precise tem.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Animal implantable temperature logger	Star-Oddi	DST nano-T
C57BL/6J mice	GemPharmatech	N000013
Giemsa Staining Solution	Beyotime	C0133
Infrared thermal images	VarioCAM	VC HD head 980
Treadmill Systems	TSE	Treadmill_6M