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Models for human neurological disease: both rats and primates are needed

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 3, page 580 (2002)Cite this article

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We appreciate the opportunity to emphasize that we did not intend to suggest, even indirectly, that primate research should be replaced by research on rats. We tried to make a case that the rat, if used optimally, is a relevant species for neurological research. Non-human primates will continue to be indispensable as a model for developing and evaluating the efficacy and safety of new treatments1, as well as for investigating species differences and similarities in the organization of the neural systems that control movement. We believe that there is a need for cooperation among rodent, primate and human researchers to improve the current behavioural methods. Modelling parkinsonian-like symptoms in rats has advanced substantially since the early days when only drug rotation tests were used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobiology Division, Wallenberg Neuroscience Centre, University of Lund, BMC A11, Lund, S-221 84, Sweden

    M. Angela Cenci

  2. Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, T1K 3M4, Alberta, Canada

    Ian Q. Whishaw

  3. Department of Psychology and Neurobiology, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Texas, USA

    Timothy Schallert

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, Michigan, USA

    Timothy Schallert

Authors
  1. M. Angela Cenci
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  2. Ian Q. Whishaw
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  3. Timothy Schallert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Angela Cenci.

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Cenci, M., Whishaw, I. & Schallert, T. Models for human neurological disease: both rats and primates are needed. Nat Rev Neurosci 3, 580 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn877-c2

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