Physiological parameters
Physiological parameters for the rat are environmental factors, general physiological factors and blood values, as listed in the tables below.
| Environmental factor (unit) | Value |
|---|---|
| Temperature (ºC) | 20-24* |
| Relative humidity (%) | 55 ± 10 |
| Ventilation (air changes/hour) | 10-20 |
| Light/darkness (hours) | 12-14 / 12-10 |
| Minimum floor surface cage (cm²) | 800 |
| Minimum floor surface cage/ animal (cm²) |
200 (0-200 g) 250 (200-300 g) 350 (300-400 g) 450 (400-600 g) 600 (> 600 g) |
| Breeding animal with pups (cm²) | 800 |
| Minimum cage height (cm) | 18 |
| Maximum light intensity (measured at cage/animal level) in lux | 60 |
* A higher temperature is required for newborns and animals that are ill or have undergone surgery. (Data modified from source: Van Zutphen, L.F.M., Baumans, V. and Beynen, A.C., Principles of Laboratory Animal Science, second edition, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 2001).
| General physiological parameter (unit) | Value |
|---|---|
| Adult weight (g) |
300-500 (male) 250-300 (female) |
| Lifespan (years) | 1-2 |
| Heart rate (resting, per min) | 300-500 |
| Respiration rate (resting, per min) | 70-110 |
| Body temperature (ºC) | 37.5-38.5 |
| Number of chromosomes (2n) | 42 |
| Body surface (cm²) |
130 (50 g) 250 (130 g) 325 (200 g) |
| Water intake (ml/100 g/day) | 10-12 |
| Sexual maturity (weeks), male and female | 6-8 |
| Breeding age (weeks), male and female | 10-12 |
| Estrous cycle (days) | 4-5 |
| Duration estrous (hours) | 14 |
| Gestation (days) | 21-23 |
| Litter size | 6-12 |
| Birth weight (g) | 5 |
| Weaning weight (g) | 40-50 |
| Weaning age (days) | 21 |
| Blood value (unit) | Value |
|---|---|
| Blood volume (ml/kg) | 60 |
| hemoglobin (g/100ml) | 14-20 |
| hematocrit (vol %) | 36-48 |
| Leukocytes (×1000/mm³) | 6-17 |
| Glucose (mg/100ml) | 134-219 |