Metabolism
What is Metabolism?
Metabolism is the intricate set of chemical processes that occur within living organisms to maintain life. From breathing to digesting food, metabolism encompasses all the biochemical reactions that sustain cells and enable organisms to grow, reproduce, and respond to their environment. Understanding metabolism is crucial for comprehending energy balance, nutrient utilization, and overall health. Indirect calorimetry, a method used to measure metabolism, offers valuable insights into how organisms utilize energy.
Metabolic Processes
Metabolic pathways are sequences of chemical reactions that convert molecules from one form to another. Key metabolic pathways include glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation. In glycolysis, glucose is broken down into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH. The citric acid cycle completes the oxidation of glucose-derived pyruvate, producing more ATP and reducing equivalents. Oxidative phosphorylation, occurring in the mitochondria, utilizes the reducing equivalents to generate ATP through the electron transport chain.
Anabolism and Catabolism
Anabolism refers to the series of metabolic pathways that involve the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones. It requires energy input, typically in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reducing equivalents such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). Anabolic processes are responsible for building and maintaining cellular structures, storing energy in the form of macromolecules, and facilitating growth and repair. Catabolism involves the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, resulting in the release of energy. This energy is often captured in the form of ATP and NADH, which can be used to drive cellular processes. Catabolic pathways play a vital role in providing cells with the energy needed to carry out various metabolic activities.
Metabolic Phenotyping
Metabolic phenotyping is a powerful tool for assessing metabolic function by measuring gas exchange, including oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. This non-invasive method provides valuable insights into energy metabolism, substrate utilization, and overall metabolic health in living organisms. By analyzing respiratory gases, researchers can quantify metabolic rate, energy expenditure, and nutrient metabolism, facilitating the study of metabolic phenotypes in health and disease. Columbus Instruments' CLAMS (Comprehensive Laboratory Animal Monitoring System) is a system that integrates advanced sensing for metabolic phenotyping studies in research settings. CLAMS provides a comprehensive view of a subject’s metabolic profile, by having the ability to track subject activity, consumption, and body weight while accounting for environmental conditions.
Indirect Calorimetry for Studying Metabolism
How it Works
Indirect calorimetry is a non-invasive method used to estimate metabolic rate by measuring the exchange of respiratory gases, primarily oxygen and carbon dioxide. This method relies on the principle that the body's consumption of oxygen and production of carbon dioxide correlate with energy expenditure. By analyzing the ratio of oxygen consumption (VO2) to carbon dioxide production (VCO2), indirect calorimetry provides valuable insights into metabolic processes.
Negative Ventilation
In indirect calorimetry systems, ventilation plays a crucial role in maintaining appropriate airflow within metabolic chambers or cages where subjects are housed during metabolic studies. Negative ventilation is an approach used to regulate airflow and ensure the accuracy of metabolic measurements. In a negative ventilation system, fresh air is drawn from the surrounding environment into the metabolic cage or chamber. This airflow circulates throughout the chamber, ensuring adequate ventilation and mixing of gases.
Applications
Energy Metabolism
Indirect calorimetry is a pivotal method for studying energy metabolism in laboratory rodents, offering insights into resting metabolic rate (RMR), energy expenditure during activity, substrate utilization, thermogenesis, and metabolic flexibility. RMR measurements provide baseline information on energy requirements for essential physiological functions, while assessments of energy expenditure during activity elucidate how animals allocate energy resources across different behaviors. Indirect calorimetry also reveals the relative contribution of carbohydrates and fats to energy metabolism, aiding in understanding substrate utilization patterns. To better understand energy contribution, Clambake is a newly developed method to evaluate contributing factors to individual energy expenditure.
Clambake was developed by the Jon Brestoff Lab at Washington University in St. Louis to better understand energy expenditure. Through parameters outputted by the Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System (CLAMS) on subject activity, consumption, and respiration exchange, Clambake can categorize energy expenditure between adaptive thermogenesis, thermic effect of food, activity-induced energy expenditure, and basal metabolic rate (BMR).
Cold Snap
Cold Snap events, characterized by sudden and significant drops in temperature, can have notable impacts on metabolic phenotyping studies. This can have profound effects on overall health and disease risk. Exposure to cold temperatures may influence metabolic parameters such as energy expenditure, glucose metabolism, and lipid metabolism, which are linked to the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. These events disrupt environmental conditions and physiological responses, influencing metabolic parameters. Studying cold snaps is important to analyze the body’s metabolic response to conserve energy. Understanding the relationship between environmental factors and metabolic health outcomes is valuable in researching seasonal change, hibernation, and homeostasis. CLAMS utilizes an environmental controller to simulate these temperature drops. By drying the sampled air of each chamber through a desiccant, chilling effects on humidity are reduced, and accurate metabolic responses can be more easily measured.
Nutrition and Obesity
Indirect calorimetry is widely employed in nutritional studies using laboratory rodents to investigate the metabolic effects of different diets, nutrient compositions, and feeding regimens. Researchers can assess energy balance, nutrient utilization, and metabolic responses to dietary interventions, such as calorie restriction, high-fat diets, or specific nutrient supplements. It contributes to our understanding of dietary influences on metabolic health and disease risk.
Pharmacology
Indirect calorimetry is valuable for assessing the metabolic effects of drugs and pharmacological compounds in laboratory rodents. Researchers can evaluate the impact of drug treatments on energy metabolism, thermogenesis, and substrate utilization, providing insights into drug mechanisms of action and potential metabolic side effects. It aids in drug discovery and the development of novel therapeutics for metabolic disorders and other health conditions.
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Metabolism
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Discover unparalleled precision and accuracy with Columbus Instruments
The Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System allows for 24-hour, automated, non-invasive collection of several physiological and behavioral parameters.
The Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System allows for 24-hour, automated, non-invasive collection of several physiological and behavioral parameters.
Columbus Instruments treadmills are state-of-the-art systems engineered for automated, non-invasive monitoring of laboratory animal activity, delivering precise and reliable data for physiology and behavior research.
Columbus Instruments treadmills are state-of-the-art systems engineered for automated, non-invasive monitoring of laboratory animal activity, delivering precise and reliable data for physiology and behavior research.
Precisely controlled enclosures for regulating temperature and light conditions in research studies.
Precisely controlled enclosures for regulating temperature and light conditions in research studies.
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel. The wheel is constructed to fit universally into most typical "shoebox" style cages (cage is not included with the system). Each wheel has a magnetic indicator and a hall effect sensor that connects to a computer interface and records wheel revolutions at user-specified intervals. Windows software is included for installation on a customer supplied PC. Data can be viewed in real time and exported into a CSV format at the end of the experiment.
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel. The wheel is constructed to fit universally into most typical "shoebox" style cages (cage is not included with the system). Each wheel has a magnetic indicator and a hall effect sensor that connects to a computer interface and records wheel revolutions at user-specified intervals. Windows software is included for installation on a customer supplied PC. Data can be viewed in real time and exported into a CSV format at the end of the experiment.
Exer-3/6, currently in its 4th generation, is a general purpose three (rats) or six (mice) lane animal exerciser utilizing single belt construction with dividing walls suspended over the tread surface.
Exer-3/6, currently in its 4th generation, is a general purpose three (rats) or six (mice) lane animal exerciser utilizing single belt construction with dividing walls suspended over the tread surface.
This unique, single lane, treadmill for mice provides an unobstructed view of animal foot location on a clear tread belt.
This unique, single lane, treadmill for mice provides an unobstructed view of animal foot location on a clear tread belt.
A precisely engineered instrument designed for reliable and consistent measurement of neurological conditions.
A precisely engineered instrument designed for reliable and consistent measurement of neurological conditions.
The Grip Strength Meter is employed in assessing neuromuscular function using efficiently designed pull bar assemblies.
The Grip Strength Meter is employed in assessing neuromuscular function using efficiently designed pull bar assemblies.
A rapid and efficient instrument designed to accurately assess pain relief levels in small laboratory animals.
A rapid and efficient instrument designed to accurately assess pain relief levels in small laboratory animals.
Allows each animal to exercise within an isolated space. An exercise belt, associated pulleys and optional stimuli are enclosed in a compartment which can be made air-tight
Allows each animal to exercise within an isolated space. An exercise belt, associated pulleys and optional stimuli are enclosed in a compartment which can be made air-tight
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel.
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel.
A precise, non-invasive blood pressure monitor that accurately measures systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure.
A precise, non-invasive blood pressure monitor that accurately measures systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure.
Multi-axis activity monitor for flexible, high-precision tracking of subject movement.
Multi-axis activity monitor for flexible, high-precision tracking of subject movement.
Automated animal activity meter for measuring locomotor activity, stereotypic movement, vertical movement, time in square, and animal path.
Automated animal activity meter for measuring locomotor activity, stereotypic movement, vertical movement, time in square, and animal path.
Designed to accurately measure the vertical component of motion associated with the startle reflex.
Designed to accurately measure the vertical component of motion associated with the startle reflex.
A multi-station rotation monitoring system that records full and partial turning motion in small laboratory animals.
A multi-station rotation monitoring system that records full and partial turning motion in small laboratory animals.
Implementation of the classic Rota-rod, designed to measure motor coordination, balance, and endurance in small animals.
Implementation of the classic Rota-rod, designed to measure motor coordination, balance, and endurance in small animals.
Custom-built home cage running wheels engineered for precise and reliable measurement of spontaneous activity in subjects.
Custom-built home cage running wheels engineered for precise and reliable measurement of spontaneous activity in subjects.
A highly adaptable general purpose closed circuit respirometer with very high sensitivity.
- Biodegradation
- ASTM D5511
- ISO 15985
- Etc.
- ISO 14851:2019
- ISO 14852:2018
- ISO 14853:2016
- Etc.
- ASTM D5538
- EN 13432
- ISO 14855
- Etc.
- ASTM D6691
- ISO 222403:2020
- Etc.
- OECD 301 B
- OECD 301
- OECD 301 F
- OECD 302B
- ASTM D5209
- ASTM D5210
- ASTM D5271
- Etc.
- ASTM D5988
- ISO 17556:2019
- Etc.
- Bioremediation
- Bioleaching
- Clean Energy
- Toxicity
- Insect Respiration
A gas blender that provides a continuous flow of mixed gases from pure gas sources.
- Gas Blending
- Hypoxia
- Multipoint Gas Calibration