Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

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Another Valid Animal Model for Sigma-1 Receptor Biology

To gain insight into the biological and signaling functions of S1R, we took advantage of recently reported crystal structures of human and Xenopus S1Rs and performed structural modeling of S1R interactions with ligands and cholesterol in the presence of the membrane.

For those claiming mice (or other lab rodents) aren't 'men;' that findings regarding sigma-1 receptor biology in non-human animals can't apply to real humans, with real human diseases, they need to know that in this study, the test animal wasn't even a mammal of any sort. It was the African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis; taxonomically quite distant from mammals in general and humans in particular. Because they are easy to grow and maintain, specimens of X. laevis are common lab test animals; as in this study.

Simply, and importantly, the sigma-1 receptor protein exists and functions in all vertebrates. Findings about sigma-1 receptor biology in lower animals are valid and parallel for mammals and humans. Notice that the editors of the International Journal of Molecular Science did not object or question the findings of the paper's authors. The findings were valid for them.