The mouse beam walking assay offers improved sensitivity over the mouse rotarod in determining motor coordination deficits induced by benzodiazepines

• Published in: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford) Vol. 19; no. 3; p. 221
• Main Authors: Stanley, Joanna L, Lincoln, Rachael J, Brown, Terry A, McDonald, Louise M, Dawson, Gerard R, Reynolds, David S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2005
• Subjects: Animals; Benzodiazepines - pharmacology; Benzodiazepinones - pharmacology; Central Nervous System Depressants - pharmacology; Diazepam - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethanol - pharmacology; GABA Agonists - pharmacology; GABA-A Receptor Agonists; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Locomotion - drug effects; Lorazepam - pharmacology; Male; Mice; Postural Balance - drug effects; Predictive Value of Tests

The mouse rotarod test of motor coordination/sedation is commonly used to predict clinical sedation caused by novel drugs. However, past experience suggests that it lacks the desired degree of sensitivity to be predictive of effects in humans. For example, the benzodiazepine, bretazenil, showed litt...