Cerebricon - Preclinical CNS Contract Research Organization (CRO)

Cerebricon Ltd. is a provider of high quality and cost effective pre-clinical contract research utilising models of CNS diseases such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, migraine, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Huntington's disease and ALS.

Cerebricon services seek to be the most comprehensive, highest quality and most cost effective available on the market. Cerebricon's internal research and development has created novel models of Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) diseases. In addition many established models have had novel facets built into them in order to extract the maximum knowledge from this stage of preclinical drug development. A completed range of behavioural analysis including morris water maze, rotarod, neuroscore, stepping test, montoya staircase, etc compliments Cerebricon models.

PRECLINICAL IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SERVICES

Cerebricon services are integral to the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and drug development/drug discovery industries. Cerebricon provides these industries with the most cost effective, quickest onset, highest quality and most accurate preclinical in vitro and in vivo services available globally.

Cerebricon works as a state-of-the-art extension of it's clients' own discovery process, but does so independently, so that solutions can be found and evaluated in the quickest possible way, thus accelerating the discovery process. Cerebricon is committed to upholding the principles of trust, quality, reliability and innovation and will ensure that these are delivered in an environment of maximum discretion.

IN VIVO MICRODIALYSIS

Samples can be taken in vivo from cerebral tissue by microdialysis in order to determine neurotransmitter and cerebral metabolite levels in the rat.

TESTS OF COORDINATION AND NEUROLOGICAL BEHAVIOR

In conjunction with in vivo models the following standard tests are available:

• Water maze
• Rotarod
• Rotation
• Montoyas staircase
• Neuroscore
• Cylinder test
• Inclined plane
• Open area
• Object recognition task
• Y-maze
• Elevated body swing test

MORRIS WATER MAZE - EVALUATE SPATIAL LEARNING AND MEMORY IN RODENTS

Morris water maze is one of the most frequently used tests to evaluate spatial learning and memory in rodents. Rodents with ischemic damage or amyloid beta infusions show consistent impairment in this test. In the water maze test, the animal swims in the pool to find a submerged platform, using visual cues to locate the platform. The rodents are highly motivated to escape from the water by the most direct route. In the standard water maze paradigm, the platform is in a constant position for 20 - 25 trials (3 - 5 testing days) but the start locations are randomised (reference memory component). During this training, the escape latency and path length to the platform are measured and used as an indicative for learning. After the last trial, the platform is removed and the animal is allowed to swim for one more trial (probe trial). The time spent in the previous target quadrant is recorded to measure spatial bias.