Zuranolone, a neuroactive steroid with a fast-developing CNS effect

Newsletter # 103


In vivo studies


■ Zuranolone (Zurzuvae), a neuroactive steroid acting as a GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator, was found as a fast-acting treatment in patients with major depressive disorder or with postpartum depression1 and very recently received the FDA's approval as the first ever oral treatment for postpartum depression2.

■ Neurofit's data show that Zuranolone significantly modifies marble burying behavior of mice within less than an hour after the administration thus confirming its fast-developing CNS effect. A plethora of scientific literature report that antidepressant drugs cause changes in marble burying behavior of mice3.

1 https://doi.org/10.1192%2Fj.eurpsy.2022.282
2 https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-oral-treatment...
3 https://doi.org/10.2515/therapie:2005068


  • The graph shows the number of marbles buried by mice during a 20 min long session. 20 glass marbles (diameter : 1.5 cm) are spaced evenly along the walls of the mouse cage which contains about 5 cm layer of fine sawdust bedding.

    ■ Vehicle-treated (control) mice bury about three-quarters of the marbles whereas those treated with anxiolytics or antidepressants bury significantly less (download reference data for Diazepam, Ketamine, Venlafaxine, Fluoxetine here).
    ■ Zuranolone-treated mice show a dose-dependent inhibition of marble burying behavior.

    ***, p ≤ 0.001, significantly different as compared to the vehicle (Placebo) group







If you are interested in these models and would like to learn more about them or other models and assays available at NEUROFIT, please visit our website
Ask for more informations

NEUROFIT offers a range of validated in vitro and in vivo screening tests for psychiatry and neurology.

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us, we will reply within few days. Custom protocol

On a regular basis we distribute newsletters with scientific information on our research services. If you wish to receive these, please :