Laboratory Analysis of Behavioral Effects of Drugs of Abuse in Rodents

Abstract

Because the neurological effects of drugs of abuse are ultimately reflected in behavioral alteration, rodent behavioral assays are often an important component of drug abuse research. Unfortunately, although there are numerous excellent sources of information for equipping a laboratory for cellular and molecular analysis, far fewer resources are available to guide the researcher in building and equipping a behavioral lab. In our experience this problem is more difficult to navigate both in terms of information available from academic, as well as commercial, resources. Here we describe information we found very useful in designing a laboratory to measure the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse in rodents.