Revolutionizing external CNS drug discovery and development for the pharmaceutical
and biotech industries

We conduct drug validated behavioral assays for the following:

Anxiety

  • Pogorelov platform test (analog of light:dark test - validated with chlordiazepoxide (CDZ), buspirone, amphetamine (anxiogenic effect), yohimbine
  • Fear-potentiated Startle (validated with CDZ)
  • Vogel conflict test (validated with CDZ)
  • marble burying (validated with CDZ, fluoxetine)
  • stress-induced hyperthermia (validated with diazepam)
Depression
  • tail suspension (validated with fluoxetine, imipramine, nomifensine, paroxetine, citalopram, bupropion).
  • forced swim (validated with fluoxetine, imipramine, reboxetine, paroxetine, nomifensine)
  • maternal separation model (consistent increase in TS immobility demonstrated in separated animals when tested at adult age, compared to non-separated controls; also changes in neurotransmitters and metabolites in relevant brain regions)
Psychosis
  • pre-pulse inhibition of acoustic startle response (validated with clozapine, risperidone, PCP, amphetamine)
  • amphetamine/PCP-induced hyperlocomotion
  • conditioned avoidance response (validated with raclopride)
Pain
  • hot and cold plate tests (validated with morphine)
  • formalin paw test (validated with morphine, gabapentin, ketorolac)
  • shock-reactivity test (validated with morphine)
  • Chung model (mice and rats, validated with gabapentin)
Sleep
  • Sleep (EEG-telemetry)
  • circadian activity
  • continuous darkness challenge
  • sleep deprivation challenge
Drug Addiction

Obesity

Learning and Memory
  • trace and delay fear conditioning (validated with nicotine, scopolamine)
  • novel object recognition (validated with scopolamine)
  • 5-choice serial reaction time, 5-CSRT (validated with nicotine, ciproxifan)
  • conditioned avoidance response
  • Morris water maze - standard or Atlantis platform (validated with scopolamine, nicotine)
Phenotypic Assessment/Behavioral Toxicology
  • Irwin screen
  • home cage observation
  • open field
  • inverted screen
  • rotorod for motor strength and coordination assessment
  • acoustic startle reactivity (hearing test, followed by ABR if differences noted)
  • visible platform task in Morris water maze (vision test, followed by ERG if differences detected)
  • Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and EKG

Custom assays upon request

Other services include:
  • Behavioral Safety Assessments
  • Biochemistry and Biomarkers
  • Microdialysis
  • PK Studies
  • Histopathology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Development of Biomarker Strategies

Routes of dosing include: IP, PO, SC, ICV, IM, intranasal, and infusions via cannula to discrete brain regions

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