Effects of Season, Temperature, and Activity on Some Blood Parameters of Feral House Mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

The hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and blood volume of feral house mice (Mus musculus) are significantly higher in winter than in summer. Similar differences occur between mice housed at 5°C and 20°C for periods of 32 days. Blood volume and total circulating hemoglobin also increased significantly after a 28-day regime of exercise at 20°C (running at 12 centimeters per second for four hours daily). Increases in hemoglobin concentration, blood volume, and total circulating hemoglobin appear to be responses to increased demands for oxygen by the tissues.