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