Self-administration test is one of the most important tools for assessing drug addiction and drug dependence. Ace Therapeutics provides high-quality self-administration model and testing services to help our clients rapidly assess the addiction potential and dependence of antipsychotic candidates in animal models.

Introduction of Self-Administration Test

The self-administration procedure is a behavioral test used to assess an animal's addiction to a substance, and is the "gold standard" for pre-clinical measures of drug abuse and dependence. In this experiment, animals are trained to use a self-administration system to obtain a drug reward, usually by pressing a button or stimulating a lever. This process is repeated over a period of time to assess whether the animals actively use the self-administration system to obtain drug rewards, thereby assessing the reinforcing effect or abuse potential of the drug. Studies have shown a high degree of similarity between the pharmacological mechanisms and neural pathways that drive animals to seek drug rewards and the mechanisms behind human drug abuse behavior. More than twenty psychoactive drugs of human abuse have been shown to be reinforcing in rat experiments. Therefore, animal self-administration models are reliable tools for predicting antipsychotic drug abuse.

Steps In the Self-Administration Experiment

The classic paradigm we offer for the self-administration experiment consists of the following steps:

• Training phase: Subject animals are trained to use a self-administration device to obtain drug rewards. Our researchers record data such as the number of times each subject animal uses the self-administration system, the dose of the drug, and the time of administration.
• Stabilization stage: In this stage, the subject animal has mastered the art of self-administration and is free to use the self-administration system to obtain drug rewards.
• Drug dependence testing: In this phase, our researchers assess the addiction and dependence of subject animals to potential antipsychotic drugs through different pharmacological interventions. In addition, we can explore the degree of addiction of the subject animals to the drugs and their corresponding neurobiological mechanisms by altering the conditions under which the drug rewards are available and by changing the way excitatory or inhibitory drugs are given.
• Drug withdrawal test: In this phase, we assess the response of the subject animals to the withdrawal drug. Our researchers take detailed notes on the mice's behavior and responses to drug withdrawal, such as anxiety, depression, and lack of concentration.

Advantages of Ace Therapeutics

• Animal model selection

Our experienced specialists will select appropriate animal models for self-administration tests, such as rats or mice, based on customer demands and drug characteristics.

• Self-administration devices

We offer a range of commonly used drug delivery devices and select the optimal delivery device for self-administration trials according to the client's demands. These devices include auto-injectors, free choice devices and self-feeding devices.

• Behavioral observation and data recording:

Our researchers will keep detailed records of data such as the number of times the mice self-administered drugs, the time of day, and the dosage of the drugs administered, in order to assess the degree of addiction and dependence on the addictive substances in the mice. In addition, we will explore the degree of addiction to drugs and its corresponding neurobiological mechanisms by changing the conditions under which drug rewards are available, and by altering the way excitatory or inhibitory drugs are given.

• Data analysis and interpretation

We provide expert data analysis and interpretation to help clients make informed decisions in antipsychotic drug development.

Ace Therapeutics is dedicated to providing our clients with professional services and support to help them efficiently conduct antipsychotic abuse and dependence risk testing and obtain accurate, valuable data. Please contact us for more details and we will be happy to assist you.