Calorimetric chamber for precise basal metabolic rate measurement in rodents
Conventional indirect calorimetry reports total energy expenditure (TEE) — a mix of basal metabolism, movement, and diet-induced thermogenesis. To understand mechanisms, drug effects, and translational relevance to sedentary human states, researchers need the basal component. Together with Prof. Dr. John Speakman, we developed the BMR Speakman Chamber to address critical scientific questions about basal metabolism in rodents.The BMR Speakman Chamber isolates BMR in rodents by combining zero-activity housing, infrared verification, and high-resolution gas exchange, producing reproducible data aligned with thermophysiology best practices.
Obesity & metabolic disorders
Drug development & pharmacology
Aging & caloric restriction
Genetic & mitochondrial studies
Thermoneutrality & environmental physiology
Energy balance & homeostasis
The BMR Speakman Chamber is engineered for precise measurement of basal metabolic rate in rodents by eliminating locomotor activity and environmental noise. At the heart of the system are high-precision oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas sensors that continuously monitor the concentrations of these gases within the chamber.
This real-time monitoring enables accurate calculation of energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER), providing essential insights into the animal’s metabolic state. For advanced research applications, the chamber can be extended with C¹³ stable isotope sensors, allowing researchers to trace substrate oxidation and investigate metabolic pathways using labelled compounds.
A key advantage of the BMR Speakman Chamber is its 1-second time resolution for gas exchange measurements. This ultra-fast sampling is crucial for capturing true basal metabolic rate (BMR) and detecting rapid metabolic changes, ensuring that even short-term fluctuations are recorded with high fidelity.
True resting-state measurement Compact chamber geometry restricts locomotion to zero.
Infrared Activity Frame Continuous beam monitoring to verify inactivity.
1-second VO₂/VCO₂ resolution Ultra-fast gas exchange captures subtle fluctuations.
Short protocol (~2 h) Reproducible BMR within a single light-phase window.
Thermoneutral integration Operate inside climate chambers for proper BMR.
C¹³-CO₂ ready Connect to the isotope sensor for substrate oxidation studies.
As the experiment progresses, the BMR Speakman Chamber reveals a gradual stabilization of energy expenditure as locomotor activity declines — uncovering the animal’s true basal metabolic rate. The close alignment between energy expenditure, activity, and respiratory exchange ratio shows how perfectly synchronized data capture the transition from total to basal metabolism.Operating under thermoneutral and stress-free conditions, the system continuously verifies inactivity through infrared monitoring to ensure that every data point represents genuine basal metabolism rather than behavioral or thermal variation. This precise synchronization delivers a clear and reproducible metabolic profile, allowing confident interpretation of basal energy dynamics across studies in obesity, thermogenesis, aging, and energy balance.
A crucial advantage of the BMR Speakman Chamber is the integrated Climate Board, a specialised sensor system that continuously monitors temperature, ambient pressure, and humidity within the home cage environment. This real-time climate data is essential for metabolic experiments, as even minor fluctuations in environmental conditions can significantly affect basal metabolic rate (BMR) and overall energy expenditure. Climate Board exclusively provides researchers with precise control and documentation of the experimental environment, ensuring data integrity and reproducibility. Additionally, the Climate Board can be used to quantify water balance, supporting advanced studies in hydration and metabolic physiology.
TEE includes basal metabolism + activity + diet-induced thermogenesis; BMR isolates the resting component.
Yes—BMR is defined at thermoneutrality during the light phase; otherwise thermoregulation elevates EE.
Concurrent Tb improves interpretation and should be reported where possible.
Yes—connect a C¹³-CO₂ sensor for substrate oxidation during basal conditions.
Absolutely—expand from 2 to 32 chambers within the same architecture.
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