Testing anxiolytic drugs in the C57BL/6J mouse strain

C57BL/6J mice are one of the most commonly used mouse strains in biobehavioral and psychopharmacological research. Prone to variance due to multiple environmental factors, animal neurophenotyping studies rely on using proper experimental protocols, study designs and well-established models and tests. Choosing the dose range for anxiolytic or anxiogenic drugs is key for obtaining valid testing results and correct data interpretation. Here we emphasize the importance of accurate dose selection in rodent anxiety paradigms for concluding whether the mouse strain used is "sensitive" and therefore appropriate for studying anxiety in selected behavioral tests. We also provide further argument in support of using the C57BL/6J mouse strain for testing anxiolytic and anxiogenic compounds.