Models & Assays

The Elevated Zero Maze (EZM) is a widely used test to assess anxiety-like behavior in rodents, which is based on their conflicting innate tendencies: exploring a new environment and avoiding elevated and open spaces. The EZM test, which is a modification of the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) test, offers increased motivation for animals to explore the open and brightened areas, due to the more continuous nature of the apparatus and the absence of the central square. The EZM test demonstrates high predictive validity in assessing the effectiveness of anxiolytic agents, resulting in an increased time spent by animal in the open arms.

Internal studies conducted by the Transpharmation research team on male BALB/c mice (10-12 weeks old) have confirmed the efficacy of diazepam (1 mg/kg, s.c.) as an anxiolytic agent in the EZM test. Acute diazepam administration reduced anxiety-like behavior in mice, as evidenced by increased locomotor activity and time spent in the open compartments.