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

{{reflist Animal testing techniques