Muricidal test

The muricidal test is used in biological research. The name is derived from the Latin, for "killing of mice".

The test measures the propensity of rats to attack mice that are introduced to their home cage, or another environment.[1][2] The laboratory application of this test does not necessarily involve the actual killing of the mouse.[1] This test is sometimes used for antidepressant screening,[3] the investigation of aggression,[4] and in the investigation of other psychotropic agents.[5] The test may be useful in identifying antidepressants as many antidepressants with serotonergic mechanisms inhibit muricidal behavior.[6] Lithium has antidepressant properties, but does not inhibit muricidal behavior,[7] which suggests a potential limitation against using it as an antidepressant screening test.

References
  1. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the serum of muricidal male Wistar rats: Indices of mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors? S. Miachon, a, M. Jouveneta and J. J. Vallon Well-described in the Materials and Methods section doi:10.1016/S0361-9230(99)00210-5
  2. Karli, Pierre (1956). "The Norway rat's killing response to the white mouse: an experimental analysis". Behaviour. 10: 81–103. doi:10.1163/156853956x00110.
  3. "Further characterisation of potential antidepressant action of flibanserin." Borsini F, Cesana R. Psychopharmacology 2001 Dec;159(1):64-9. Epub 2001 Sep 11
  4. "Mouse killing in rats: A comparison of spontaneous killers and rats with lesions of the medial hypothalamus or the medial accumbens nucleus." D.J. Alberta, M.L. Walsha, J. Ryana and Y. Siemens doi:10.1016/0031-9384(82)90288-8
  5. "Behavioral pharmacology of zopiclone". Ueki, S. Sleep Volume 10 Suppl 1, 1987, Pages 1-6
  6. Psychopharmacology 1981;74(2):137-42. Differences in presynaptic alpha-blockade, noradrenaline uptake inhibition, and potential antidepressant activity between (+)- and (-)mianserin. Schoemaker H, Berendsen HH, Stevens HJ, Nickolson VJ.
  7. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1975 Sep-Oct;3(5):795-7. Effects of lithium chloride on muricidal behavior in rats. Rush J, Mendels J.
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