Background

Abstract

Relative energy deficiency in sport, also known as RED-S, is characterized by having low energy intake combined with high energy expenditure, which affects the entire body system, making it very difficult to diagnose and treat effectively. We created two potential mouse cage designs to simulate low energy availability: one that is open-source and easily accessible, and the other that can be mass produced for a clinical research setting. The open-source design provided a less efficient method for data collection due to the Arduino at 2.5% of the cost ($500), whereas modified SALK cage design was 40 times more expensive ($20,000) but could collect data for 16 cages at once due to the MedAssociates software. The data that is collected from both designs will accurately record the energy used (wheel revolutions) and energy consumed (pellets dispensed); however, the difference between the two systems is dependent on the knowledge and expertise with the different set ups. Future directions for the project may include mass production of the cages for actual mice experiments, use of IR motion capture to more accurately record the mice’s energy expenditure, or use of force plates to measure the mice’s body mass and composition over time.

What is RED-S?

Our project is centered around Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport also known as RED-S, which is defined as when a person has low energy availability. This is very common in endurance athletes and occurs when an athlete is overtraining combined with under-fueling, which leads them to a state of low energy availability. RED-S is extremely complex and can affect the reproductive, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and immune systems. Currently, the only real treatment options are to reduce energy expenditure or increase energy intake, or typically both at once. Thus, lots of research is being done on RED-S, with the end goal of creating biomarkers that clinicians can use to diagnose patients.

Most RED-S research utilizes mouse models since mice display the same physiological effects to states of low energy as humans do. For this project, we focused on a mouse model known as the Work for Food protocol, in which individually housed mice have to run on their wheel to earn their food, leading them to a state of low energy availability. For this project, we focused on creating an open-source cage design that can be used for various mouse experiments, and that is accessible and affordable for independent researchers.

Credit: Kate Lindeman

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