Mice are equipped with small, rechargeable implants which monitor physiological functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, activity, and ECGs in the stress-free setting of the home cage. Implant signals are analyzed by a computer program and provide continuous recording of several different parameters for an extended period of time (up to one year). Mice equipped with a telemetric device can be used for practically all experimental conditions and tests, including mutant phenotyping and pharmacology.

Rats equipped with a radio-transmitter are injected with vehicle or a dose of diazepam 60 min before the animals receive a stressor, a novel cage. Stressors (the injection and the novel cage) induce a stress-induced hyperthermia that is dose-dependently antagonized by the benzodiazepine anxiolytic diazepam.