Aptuit Offers Fast, Preliminary Hippocampal Screening Studies for CNS Drugs

Aptuit announces that it offers fast screenings of synaptic activity on hippocampal slices for clients who are focused on the central nervous system (CNS) therapeutic area.

Stuart Needleman, President and Chief Operating Officer, Aptuit LLC, said Aptuit provides an expeditious way to obtain a preliminary understanding of a compound’s effect on hippocampal synaptic activity. He added, “In a short period, the quality data that we secure assists clients in the assessment of the desired effect of their compounds with both mechanism of action and safety profile results. We are in position to follow through with further experiments as needed.”

Mr. Needleman stated, “In place of the customary 14-day required to perform the studies, Aptuit can complete preliminary hippocampal screening studies in just five days. And, while hippocampal screening studies may be available from other sources, Aptuit employs two tested concentrations rather than the single concentration that is more common.”

Dr. Annarosa Ugolini, Principal Scientist in the Electrophysiology Laboratory at The Aptuit Center for Drug Discovery & Development in Verona, Italy, said that Aptuit is able to evaluate potential compound effect on cognitive brain circuits. She further explained, “We evaluate effects of the compound in two tested concentrations on the synaptic activity of pyramidal neurons in acute hippocampal slices. We study basal synaptic transmission, short term plasticity and the long term plasticity. When an effect is detected, we can be much more succinct in proposing further studies when they are needed. Moreover, in the same hippocampal preparation we can also evaluate side effects, such as the manifestation of epileptogenic activity after compound application.”

Aptuit’s experimental methods feature a semi-automated system of extracellular concurrent and independent recordings, leading to increased throughput and reduced animal use; rat or mice acute slices; and three tested slices/compound concentration.

Mr. Needleman concluded, “Since time and cost are primary client concerns, these in vitro electrophysiological assessments provide a more rapid solution to the investigative process, providing an accurate picture early on in the evaluation of specific compound activity in the central nervous system.”

For more information, please contact Maria Garvey at Delfino Marketing either by phone at 914-747-1400 or by email: [email protected].