Mining mouse movements to make more meds
A new screen for active drugs in mice can put drugs into classes. But can it find the drugs we’re looking for?
By Bethany Brookshire, 11:21 AM October 30, 2013
In pharmacology research, it seems like one test is never enough. If you want to test a new antidepressant, reviewers (and good logic) often demand that you use more than one test. A locomotor assay to see whether the new drug depresses or increases how much a mouse moves. A forced swim test or tail suspension test to see how it stacks up against other, known antidepressants. Does it increase swimming? Or climbing? Does it decrease immobility more or less than known antidepressants? You may w...
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