Climbing Tower: Resistance Exercise System
A 100 cm vertical steel mesh climbing tower system for controlled resistance exercise studies investigating bone mass, skeletal muscle adaptation, and metabolic responses in mice and rats.
Louise Corscadden, PhD
Director of Science · ConductScience
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Key Specifications
Full details →- Model fit
- Mouse, Rat
- SKU family
- ME-33102
- Sizing
- Mouse/Rat: Height climbing tower 100 cm · Width diameter tower 20 cm
- Ordering
- Online checkout and quote request available
- Category
- Behavioral Mazes
- Build notes
- steel mesh
The Climbing Tower: Resistance Exercise System is a specialized apparatus designed for controlled resistance training studies in mice and rats. The system features a 100 cm vertical steel mesh climbing tower with precise 5 mm cross-stripe spacing, providing standardized mechanical loading conditions for bone mass and skeletal muscle research. Originally developed based on methodologies from Yarasheski et al. and refined by Duncan et al. and Notomi et al., this apparatus enables researchers to study the effects of progressive resistance exercise on bone density, muscle adaptation, and metabolic parameters in rodent models.
The system includes a metal housing cage with dual water bottle capacity and operates under controlled environmental conditions (24±1°C, 55% humidity, 12-hour light/dark cycle). The 20 cm inner diameter tower accommodates both mouse and rat subjects, while the standardized 90-degree vertical climbing angle ensures consistent mechanical loading protocols across experimental sessions.
How It Works
The resistance exercise system operates on the principle of progressive mechanical loading through vertical climbing against gravity. Animals climb the 100 cm steel mesh tower while carrying progressively increasing loads attached to their tail base, creating controlled resistance that stimulates bone formation and muscle adaptation. The 5 mm cross-stripe spacing provides optimal grip spacing for both mouse and rat paws, ensuring consistent climbing mechanics across species.
The mechanical loading stimulus triggers osteoblast activity and bone formation through Wolff's Law, while simultaneously inducing skeletal muscle hypertrophy and fiber type adaptations. The vertical climbing motion engages multiple muscle groups including hindlimb extensors and core musculature, providing a comprehensive resistance training stimulus. Environmental controls maintain consistent testing conditions that minimize confounding variables affecting exercise performance and physiological responses.
Features & Benefits
Sizes by model
| Measurement | Mouse/Rat |
|---|---|
| Height climbing tower | 100 cm |
| Width diameter tower | 20 cm |
- Cage
Tower Height
- 100 cm
Tower Inner Diameter
- 20 cm
Cross Stripe Spacing
- 5 mm
Tower Material
- steel mesh
Cage Material
- metal
Water Bottle Capacity
- 2 small water bottles
Tower Angle
- 90 degrees
Recommended Temperature
- 24 ±1°C
Recommended Humidity
- 55%
Light Cycle
- 12-hour light/dark cycle
Behavioral Construct
- Motor Activity
- Exercise Performance
- Physical Conditioning
Automation Level
- manual
Species
- Mouse
- Rat
Material
- Metal
- steel mesh
Dimensions
- 40 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm
Research Domain
- Aging Research
- Metabolic Research
- Motor Function
- Neurodegeneration
Compatible Tracking Software
- ConductVision
Shipping weight
- 21.0 lb
Shipping box
- L: 43.2 cm
- W: 38.0 cm
- H: 27.9 cm
| Feature | This Product | Typical Alternative | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tower Height | 100 cm climbing distance | Many systems offer shorter climbing distances of 50-80 cm | Greater climbing distance provides more sustained mechanical loading stimulus for comprehensive bone and muscle adaptation studies |
| Grip Surface Spacing | Precisely spaced 5 mm cross-stripes | Variable or unspecified spacing in basic climbing systems | Standardized grip spacing ensures consistent climbing mechanics and reduces variability in mechanical loading across subjects |
| Species Compatibility | 20 cm diameter accommodates both mice and rats | Many systems designed for single species use | Dual species capability allows comparative studies and maximizes equipment utilization across different research protocols |
| Environmental Control Integration | Specified temperature (24±1°C) and humidity (55%) parameters | Basic systems without environmental control specifications | Defined environmental parameters ensure consistent testing conditions and reduce confounding variables in exercise physiology studies |
| Housing Integration | Dual water bottle capacity within exercise cage | Separate housing and exercise areas requiring animal transfers | Integrated housing reduces handling stress and allows for continuous access to hydration during training protocols |
This system provides a comprehensive resistance exercise platform with standardized mechanical loading characteristics, dual species compatibility, and integrated environmental controls. The 100 cm tower height and precise grip spacing offer consistent training stimuli for rigorous bone and muscle adaptation studies.
Practical Tips
Verify tower vertical alignment using a level before each study period to ensure consistent 90-degree climbing angle.
Why: Even small deviations from vertical affect gravitational loading and can introduce variability in mechanical stimuli.
Inspect steel mesh cross-stripes weekly for wear patterns or damage that could affect grip consistency.
Why: Compromised grip surfaces lead to inconsistent climbing mechanics and potentially unsafe conditions for animals.
Habituate animals to the climbing tower for 3-5 sessions before beginning load-bearing protocols.
Why: Proper habituation reduces stress responses and establishes baseline climbing behavior for accurate assessment of training adaptations.
Record climbing times, rest intervals, and load progression for each animal to track training consistency.
Why: Detailed documentation enables correlation between mechanical loading dose and physiological outcomes in data analysis.
Monitor animals for signs of fatigue or injury during climbing sessions and establish clear stopping criteria.
Why: Early detection of overuse prevents injury and ensures animal welfare while maintaining scientific validity of exercise protocols.
Maintain consistent timing of exercise sessions relative to light cycle to control for circadian effects on performance.
Why: Circadian rhythms affect muscle strength and metabolism, so consistent timing reduces variability in exercise responses.
If animals refuse to climb, reduce initial load and extend habituation period with positive reinforcement at the top.
Why: Climbing reluctance often indicates inadequate habituation or excessive initial loading that can be corrected with protocol adjustments.
Setup Guide
What’s in the Box
- 100 cm steel mesh climbing tower
- Metal cage housing (40x30x30 cm)
- Two small water bottles
- Mounting hardware (typical)
- User manual and protocol guidelines (typical)
- Assembly instructions (typical)
Warranty
ConductScience provides a one-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and construction. Technical support is available for protocol development and troubleshooting throughout the warranty period.
Compliance
Protocol and background
Introduction
The Mouse Resistance Exercise System (MRES) is a climbing tower used to study the role of mechanical loading in the maintenance of bone mass and strength. It can also be used to study changes in skeletal muscle and abdominal fat content after resistance exercise. Resistance exercise system (RES) was first developed by Yarasheski et al., to study effects of heavy-resistance exercise training on the skeletal muscle fiber composition of young rats. Many years later, Duncan et al., designed another resistance exercise system based on Yarasheski et al., model to carry out a similar study to evaluate whether long-term, heavy resistance training would cause adaptations in rat skeletal muscle structure and function. Notomi et al., further modified the RES used previously to study skeletal muscle changes, by increasing the length of the tower used for climbing to observe the effects of exercise on bone mass, strength, and turnover in growing rats. Notomi et al. conducted anot her study., in orchidectomized, growing rats to evaluate the effects of hormone deficiency as well as mechanical loading on bone mass and strength. Mori et al., developed the Mouse Resistance Exercise System and conducted one of the first studies in mice. Mice are very commonly used as an animal model for cellular and molecular investigations related to bone and bone marrow. Such models can be used to increase understanding of how different resistance training exercises in humans can be effective in increasing Bone Mineral Density (BMD), skeletal muscle mass or regulation of bone marrow cells to treat conditions like anemia.
The MRES is a metal cage with a meshed-wire tower. Subjects are allowed to voluntarily climb up the tower to get water from the bottles at the top of the tower as a reward. The duration of climbing activity and distance climbed is recorded.
Apparatus & Equipment
The Mouse Resistance Exercise System (MRES) consists of a metal cage (40 cm X 30 cm X 30 cm) and a cylindrical meshed-wire tower 100 cm long. The mesh wire is made up of steel and has cross stripes at intervals of 5 mm. The tower has an inner diameter of 20 cm with a meshed wire platform at one end to hold two small water bottles. The tower is placed in the metal cage at 90 degrees with the water bottle platform at the top of the tower. The length of the tower from the end to the water bottle platform is 100 cm.
Training Protocol
The subjects are housed in cages under standard laboratory conditions where the temperature is maintained at 24 ±1°C with 55% humidity. The subjects are allowed to acclimatize for 2 weeks before testing. The subjects are provided with water and food without any restrictions at all times. An alternate 12 hours light/dark cycle is maintained with lights turned on from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Clean the entire apparatus to remove any unwanted cues that can influence the performance of the subjects. The tracking and recording of the trials can be performed using tracking and video system such as the Noldus EthoVision XT. The trials take place over a period of 4 to 8 weeks. The subjects are transferred from their cages into the MRES and monitored once a week for 24 hours per day.
The role of Mouse Resistance Exercise System in Increasing Bone Mass and Trabecular Bone Turnover
Mori et al., conducted one of the first studies in mice by developing MRES. They used male C57BL/6J mice that were 8 weeks of age at the time of testing. The subjects were divided into three groups as ground control, baseline control and climbing exercise group according to weight. The climbing exercise group was tested in MRES for 4 weeks. Total distance climbed, and total duration of climbing activity was recorded for 24 hours per day for 4 weeks. The mice were then killed by exsanguination under ether anesthesia, and bone specimens were collected for further analysis and tests.
No significant differences were found in the climbing distances and duration in the exercise group subjects over the 4 week period. It was observed that the mid femur had an increased periosteal bone formation causing an increase in the cross-sectional area for 2 and 4 weeks while the bone marrow area was found enlarged at 2 weeks only. There was also an increase in the BMD of femur over the 4 weeks. In tibia, an increase in trabecular bone volume associated with an initial decrease and subsequent increase in the bone formation was observed for 2 weeks. There was an enlargement of cortical envelopes initially and showed a different response in comparison to trabecular bone. Bone marrow osteoclastogenic cells were downregulated, and osteogenic cells were upregulated initially, but over the course of 4 weeks, the cells did not show further sensitization to exercise. The study shows that the MRES model can be used to investigate in vivo regulation of bone mass, turnover, and bone marrow osteogenic and osteoclastogenic potentials due to mechanical loading.
Data Analysis
The data recorded from the device during the test is as follows
- Distance climbed per day (24 hours)
- Total duration of climbing activity in 24 hours
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
The MRES is a very simple and easy to use device. It can also be used to test other rodents like rats with slight modifications to the size of the apparatus. The subjects can also be tested with weights attached to them. No training trials are required before testing which makes the MRES time efficient.
Limitations
The MRES testing looks at the physical activity status of the subject rather than physical training. More studies are needed using MRES to evaluate the effectiveness of the device as a resistance exercise model.
Summary & Key Points
- The Mouse Resistance Exercise System (MRES) is used to study the role of mechanical loading in the maintenance of bone mass and strength.
- The MRES consists of a meshed- wire climbing tower placed in a metal cage.
- The subjects are allowed to climb the tower to get water from the bottle at the top of the tower.
- The duration of climbing activity and distance climbed is recorded.
- The MRES is a very simple and easy to use device, but more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the device as a resistance exercise model.
References
Yarasheski KE, Lemon PW, Gilloteaux J (1990). Effect of heavy-resistance exercise training on muscle fiber composition in young rats. J Appl Physiol. 69(2), 434-7. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1990.69.2.434
Duncan ND, Williams DA, Lynch GS (1998). Adaptations in rat skeletal muscle following long-term resistance exercise training. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 77(4), 372-8. DOI: 10.1007/s004210050347
Notomi T, Okimoto N, Okazaki Y, Tanaka Y, Nakamura T, Suzuki M (2001). Effects of tower climbing exercise on bone mass, strength, and turnover in growing rats. J Bone Miner Res. 16(1), 166-74. DOI: 10.1359/jbmr.2001.16.1.166
Notomi T, Okazaki Y, Okimoto N, Tanaka Y, Nakamura T, Suzuki M. (2002). Effects of tower climbing exercise on bone mass, strength, and turnover in orchidectomized growing rats. J Appl Physiol. 93(3), 1152-8. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01221.2001
Mori T, Okimoto N, Sakai A, Okazaki Y, Nakura N, Notomi T, Nakamura T (2003). Climbing exercise increases bone mass and trabecular bone turnover through transient regulation of marrow osteogenic and osteoclastogenic potentials in mice. J Bone Miner Res. 18(11), 2002-9. DOI: 10.1359/jbmr.2003.18.11.2002
From the Maze Engineers documentation for this apparatus.
What is the maximum load capacity for resistance training protocols?
Load capacity depends on animal body weight and training progression. Typical protocols begin with 50-75% body weight for rats, with gradual increases. Consult established protocols from Notomi et al. and Duncan et al. for species-specific loading parameters.
How do I standardize climbing sessions across different animals?
Maintain consistent environmental conditions (24±1°C, 55% humidity), use identical climbing heights, and establish standard rest intervals between climbs. Document load progression and climbing times for each animal to ensure comparable mechanical stimuli.
What maintenance is required for the steel mesh surface?
Regularly inspect mesh for wear or damage that could affect grip consistency. Clean with appropriate disinfectants between animals and replace the tower if cross-stripe integrity is compromised, as this affects loading mechanics.
Can this system accommodate longitudinal studies lasting several months?
Yes, the steel construction supports extended protocols. Monitor animals for signs of overuse injury and adjust loading progression accordingly. The system's durability allows for consistent mechanical properties throughout long-term studies.
How does this compare to other resistance exercise models like weighted swimming?
Tower climbing provides more specific mechanical loading to the skeleton compared to swimming, making it preferable for bone research. The vertical climbing motion more closely mimics natural rodent behavior while providing quantifiable resistance.
What outcome measures are compatible with this exercise protocol?
Common endpoints include bone mineral density (DEXA, micro-CT), histomorphometry, muscle mass and fiber typing, serum bone turnover markers, and biomechanical testing of bone and muscle strength.
How do I determine appropriate training frequency and duration?
Most protocols use 3 sessions per week with 8-10 climbs per session. Training duration typically ranges from 4-8 weeks for acute adaptations or longer for chronic studies. Follow established protocols and monitor animal welfare indicators.
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