A novel system for the indirect calorimetry of mice, rats, birds, and other small animals. Simply connect the CaloBox with an animal cuvette, turn on air flow, and press “Start” for a measurement.
Common applications are: Animal metabolism, nutrition, heat regulation, thermoregulation, bioenergetics, activity, animal behavior, energy balance, resting metabolic rate, energetics of locomotion, and many more.
The Calobox automatically measures and calculates typical indirect calorimetry parameters such as metabolic rate, energy expenditure (EE), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Video introduction.
The CaloBox was developed by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Heldmaier (Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany). Read what Prof. Heldmaier says about the CaloBox here.
The PhenoSys CaloBox is a PhenoSys Collaboration product. These products are brought to market together with the scientists who developed them. The CaloBox is a joint product of Prof. Dr. Gerhard Heldmaier and PhenoSys.
Calculation of metabolic rates:
Calculates energy expenditure (EE) based on V′O2 and RER
Check out the Wikipedia page for a basic introduction into the topic.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 x 30 x 15.8 cm |
| Weight | 3.5 kg |
| Mass flowmeter for sample air / Response time / Repeatability | 0...5 sLpm (0….300 L/h) / 60 msec / +- 0.5% |
| Electrochemical O2-cell. Range / response time / accuracy | 0….25 Vol% / 12 sec / <1% @ 21 Vol% |
| CO2 measurement, NDIR-cell (non dispersive infrared): range / response time / accuracy | 0...0.5 Vol% / 20sec / +-30 ppm |
| HT-Sensor, relative humidity resolution / temperature sensor resolution | 0.025% / 0.04°C |
| Thermocouple Type T, Cu-Const, resolution | +/- 0.1 °C |
| Membrane pumps | longlife with brushless dc motor |
The CaloBox – Push-button calorimetry
CaloBox Set-up with small animal cuvette and Laptop
Reliable and user-friendly technology
Reliable and user-friendly technology
Wellbrock, A. H. J., Eckhardt, L. R. H., Kelsey, N. A., Heldmaier, G., Rozman, J., Witte, K. (2022). Cool birds: first evidence of energy-saving nocturnal torpor in free-living commonswifts Apus apus resting in their nests. Biol Lett, 18: 20210675
Elfers, K., Armbrecht, Y., Brede, M., Mazzuoli-Weber, G., Heldmaier, G., Breves, G. (2022). How much does it cost? Teaching physiology of energy metabolism in mice using an indirect calorimetry system in a practical course for veterinary students. Adv Physiol Educ, 46: 145-157
Yamagata, T., Kahn, M. C., Prius-Mengual, J., Meijer, E., … & Vyazovskiy, V. V. (2021). The hypothalamic link between arousal and sleep homeostasis in mice. PNAS, 118(51), e2101580118.
Oelkrug, R., Krause, C., Herrmann, B., Resch, J., Gachkar, S., El Gammal, A. T., … & Mittag, J. (2020). Maternal Brown Fat Thermogenesis Programs Glucose Tolerance in the Male Offspring. Cell Reports, 33(5), 108351.
Martire, V. L., Berteotti, C., Bastianini, S., Alvente, S., Valli, A., Cerri, M., … & Zoccoli, G. (2020). The physiological signature of daily torpor is not orexin dependent. J Comp Physiol B.; 190(4):493-507.
Johann, K., Cremer, A. L., Fischer, A. W., Heine, M., Pensado, E. R., Resch, J., … & Astiz, M. (2019). Thyroid-hormone-induced browning of white adipose tissue does not contribute to thermogenesis and glucose consumption. Cell reports, 27(11), 3385-3400.