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
rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include '' Neotoma'' ( pack rats), '' Bandicota'' (bandico ...
s to attack
mice
A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...
that are introduced to their home cage, or another environment.
[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 ] The laboratory application of this test does not necessarily involve the actual killing of the mouse.
This test is sometimes used for
antidepressant
Antidepressants are a class of medication used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain conditions, and to help manage addictions. Common side-effects of antidepressants include dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness ...
screening
Screening may refer to:
* Screening cultures, a type a medical test that is done to find an infection
* Screening (economics), a strategy of combating adverse selection (includes sorting resumes to select employees)
* Screening (environmental), a s ...
, the investigation of
aggression
Aggression is overt or covert, often harmful, social interaction with the intention of inflicting damage or other harm upon another individual; although it can be channeled into creative and practical outlets for some. It may occur either reacti ...
, and in the investigation of other
psychotropic agents
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, psychoactive agent or psychotropic drug is a chemical substance, that changes functions of the nervous system, and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition or behavior.
...
. The test may be useful in identifying antidepressants as many antidepressants with
serotonergic
Serotonergic () or serotoninergic () means "pertaining to or affecting serotonin". Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. A synapse
In the nervous system, a synapse is a structure that permits a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chem ...
mechanisms inhibit muricidal behavior.
Lithium
Lithium (from el, λίθος, lithos, lit=stone) is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid ...
has antidepressant properties, but does not inhibit muricidal behavior,
[Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1975 Sep-Oct;3(5):795-7. Effects of lithium chloride on muricidal behavior in rats. Rush J, Mendels J.] which suggests a potential limitation against using it as an antidepressant screening test.
References
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Animal testing techniques