Case Study: Advancing Drug Toxicity Research with MouseOx® 3.0 at UT Health San Antonio
The University of Texas Health San Antonio has been a long-standing user of the MouseOx® system, beginning with the original MouseOx Plus® paired with a Multiplexer. This early setup enabled higher throughput and allowed researchers to adapt multiple-animal templates to their specific needs. Over time, the system has become a cornerstone for studying the cardiorespiratory effects of drugs of abuse and their adulterants.
Research Objectives
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio are focused on investigating the toxic effects of drugs of abuse and their adulterants, both with and without reversal by antagonists. Current studies include:
- Fentanyl and xylazine
- Fentanyl and methamphetamine
These projects address urgent public health concerns by exploring how dangerous drug mixtures impact physiological responses.
Methodology: From MouseOx Plus to MouseOx® 3.0
The team initially used the MouseOx Plus system with a Multiplexer, which allowed monitoring of multiple animals sequentially. For example, one study recorded baseline data across two animals, marking events and tracking physiological effects through multiple channels.
*Figure 1. Baseline data collected on two animals using MouseOx Plus with Multiplexer. The event marker channel highlights responses to experimental interventions.
*Figure 2. Zooming in after the event shows clear differentiation of physiological responses across channels.
With the release of MouseOx® 3.0 in October 2023, UT Health San Antonio was one of the first adopters of the Simultaneous System, enabling real-time, continuous monitoring of up to six animals at once. This advancement significantly streamlined data collection and enhanced throughput.
*Figure 4. MouseOx® 3.0 Simultaneous System playback view, displaying continuous cardiorespiratory data across multiple animals with selectable channels for deeper analysis.
MouseOx® 3.0 Highlights
The research team highlighted several benefits of MouseOx® 3.0:
- “The system has allowed for the simultaneous and continuous recording of physiological responses from multiple animals.”
- “We are able to monitor the cardiorespiratory effects of drugs of abuse alone or in mixtures with commonly found adulterants and assess reversal of these drug effects with various treatments.”
- “The system has extremely sensitive physiological measures that capture a range of drug effects from acute to severe responses.”
- “Easy to set-up and use system/program.”
- “Playback feature allows for a quick snapshot of data collected over time.”
- “Collars have a long life when used/stored properly and carefully.”
These features have improved both the quality and efficiency of data collection, allowing researchers to track responses from subtle physiological changes through severe toxic effects.
Papers in Review
- Investigating fentanyl and xylazine
- Investigating fentanyl and methamphetamine
These upcoming publications will provide additional validation of MouseOx® 3.0’s utility in addiction and toxicology research.
Conclusion / Key Benefits
The MouseOx® 3.0 Simultaneous System has become an indispensable tool at UT Health San Antonio. By enabling high-throughput, sensitive, and continuous physiological monitoring, the system supports cutting-edge research into the toxic effects of dangerous drug combinations.
This work not only advances scientific knowledge but also contributes directly to understanding and addressing today’s drug epidemic.