International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 32-39 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmvr 33 1 Physiological and Temperature Adaptability of Mice 1.1 Living habits and physiological characteristics of mice Mice (Mus musculus) are a widespread rodent found in a variety of environments, from cities to rural areas and even wilderness. They are usually active at night and have well-developed senses of hearing and smell, making them prime prey for predators such as cats. The relatively small size of mice allows them to find food and build nests in a variety of environments. It has strong fecundity, can quickly adapt to environmental changes, and rapidly increase its population size. The physiological characteristics of mice are highly adaptable, allowing them to survive in various temperature conditions. They have the ability to self-regulate their body temperature and adapt to different environmental temperatures by changing their metabolic rate and behavior. The density and color of a mouse's fur can also affect its adaptability to temperature to a certain extent. 1.2 Effect of temperature on physiological functions of mice Temperature has a significant impact on the physiological functions of mice (Zhu et al., 2023). In a low-temperature environment, the metabolic rate of mice increases to produce more heat to maintain body temperature. This may result in increased food intake to meet energy needs or fat storage in response to long-term cold exposure. On the other hand, in high-temperature environments, the metabolic rate of mice may decrease to reduce heat production and maintain body temperature stability by dissipating heat through the mouth, skin, and breathing. Temperature can also affect the behavior and living habits of mice. In cold environments, mice are more likely to seek out secluded nests or more food to increase energy intake. In hot environments, they may choose to rest more in the shade and move less to prevent overheating. 1.3 Mechanism of temperature adaptation in mice The temperature adaptation mechanism of mice involves multiple aspects, including adaptive changes at the physiological, behavioral and molecular levels (Figure 1). Physiologically, mice adapt to different temperature environments by adjusting their metabolic rate, changing breathing patterns, and using body hair to regulate heat dissipation. Mice can also avoid the effects of extreme temperatures by changing their activity patterns and finding suitable habitats. Figure 1 General mechanism of physiological thermoregulation in mammals (Mota-Rojas et al., 2021) At the molecular level, mice adapt to temperature by regulating gene expression and epigenetic marks. For example, some genes are related to temperature sensitivity, and their expression levels may change at different temperatures to regulate related physiological processes. At the same time, temperature may also affect epigenetic marks in mice, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, thereby regulating gene expression patterns to adapt to different temperature environments.
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