[Thermoneutrality and animal study].

Animal models remain important for the study of human pathologies. The most widely used model (mouse) is an endothermic mammal like humans, maintained at ambient temperatures (22 °C). Its energy metabolism is overactivated, a situation rarely observed in humans thanks to various adaptations (clothing, heating…). The thermoneutral zone is defined as a range of ambient temperatures that allows an organism to regulate body temperature without using additional thermoregulatory processes. There are many examples of divergent results between studies conducted at 22 °C or at 30 °C (thermoneutrality for mice). Therefore, it seems essential to take into account the housing temperature both for animal welfare and for the relevance of the results.