Metabolic Cage Analysis of Mice

During the third week of treatment, mice (n = 8 per group) were placed in fully automatic metabolic cages (LabMaster System, TSE Systems, Bad Homburg, Germany) to assess energy expenditure and physical activity levels. After 20 h of acclimatization, oxygen uptake (V˙ O₂) and carbon dioxide production (V˙ CO₂) were measured for five consecutive days. Total energy expenditure (EE) was calculated from V˙ O₂ and V˙ CO₂ using the Weir equation [35 (link)]. Fat and glucose oxidation rates were calculated from V˙ O₂ and V˙ CO₂, as described previously [36 (link)]. Physical activity was measured using infrared sensor frames.