Patent ID: 8173376

Claim:
A method of identifying a compound that may be used for the treatment of pain, said method comprising: (a) contacting a test compound with a cell expressing a CNS chloride transporter; (b) comparing an activity of said CNS chloride transporter in the presence of the test compound with an activity of said CNS chloride transporter in the absence of said test compound; wherein a modulation in said activity of said CNS chloride transporter in the presence relative to in the absence of said test compound is an indication that said test compound may be used for treatment of pain, wherein (i) if said CNS chloride transporter is a chloride exporter, said modulation is an increase, and (ii) if said CNS chloride transporter is a chloride importer, said modulation is a decrease; and (c) identifying a compound for the treatment of pain on the basis of said comparison.