XPRISM: Experimental Pharmacology Research & Interactive Student Module
Putting the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) into practice by giving students realistic, interactive alternatives to animal experiments. About XPRISM →
Simulated practicals for Pharmacology I, II and III: in-vivo behavioural studies, isolated tissue experiments and bioassays. Each module has a task description, an interactive experiment bench, an observation sheet with statistics, and viva questions.
Pharmacology I
Semester V • In-vivo behavioural & basic experiments
Routes of Drug Administration
Onset and duration of pentobarbitone sleep via oral, s.c., i.m., i.p. and i.v. routes in mice.
Effects of Drugs on Rabbit Eye
Mydriatics, miotics and local anaesthetics: pupil size, light reflex and corneal reflex.
Anticonvulsant Activity: MES (Electroconvulsometer)
Maximal electroshock seizures in rats; abolition of tonic hind-limb extension by phenytoin.
Muscle Relaxant Activity: Rota-Rod
Fall-off time of mice on a rotating rod before and after diazepam.
Anticonvulsant Activity: PTZ-Induced Seizures
Latency and protection against pentylenetetrazole clonic convulsions with diazepam.
Hepatic Enzyme Induction: Phenobarbitone Sleeping Time
Effect of enzyme inducers and inhibitors on barbiturate sleeping time in mice.
Ciliary Motility of Frog Oesophagus
Time for a poppy seed to travel 20 mm along the oesophagus with ACh, physostigmine and atropine.
Local Anaesthetics
Surface (rabbit cornea), infiltration and nerve-block methods; onset and duration.
Locomotor Activity: Actophotometer
CNS depressant and stimulant effects on photocell beam counts in mice.
Catalepsy & Stereotypy
Haloperidol-induced catalepsy (bar test) and amphetamine stereotypy; reversal by anti-catatonic drugs.
Anxiolytic Activity: Elevated Plus Maze
Open-arm entries and time spent with diazepam in mice.
Pharmacology II
Semester VI • Isolated tissues, bioassays, analgesic & anti-inflammatory
DRC of Acetylcholine: Frog Rectus Abdominis
Graded contractions on a kymograph; log dose–response curve and EC50.
Physostigmine & Atropine on ACh DRC (Rat Ileum)
Left shift by anticholinesterase and parallel right shift by competitive antagonist.
Histamine Bioassay: Matching Method
Estimate an unknown histamine concentration on guinea-pig ileum by matching responses.
Histamine Bioassay: Interpolation & Bracketing
Interpolate the test response between standard doses.
Three-Point Bioassay
Two standard doses and one test dose; potency by formula.
Four-Point Bioassay
Two standard and two test doses in Latin-square order; potency ratio.
pA2 Value: Schild Plot
pA2 of atropine (ACh) or mepyramine (histamine) from dose ratios.
Analgesic Activity: Eddy's Hot Plate
Reaction time (paw licking / jumping) with morphine or pentazocine.
Analgesic Activity: Tail-Flick Analgesiometer
Radiant heat tail withdrawal latency and % maximum possible effect.
Anti-inflammatory Activity: Carrageenan Paw Oedema
Plethysmometer paw volume and % inhibition with indomethacin / diclofenac.
Pharmacology III
Semester VII • Cardiovascular & gastrointestinal pharmacology
Drugs on Blood Pressure & Heart Rate
Dale's adrenaline reversal, ACh reversal after atropine, histamine and β-agonist responses in the anaesthetised rat.
Anti-ulcer Activity: Pylorus Ligation
Gastric volume, acidity and ulcer index with ranitidine / omeprazole.
Gastrointestinal Motility: Charcoal Meal
Percentage intestinal transit with atropine and metoclopramide; measure the charcoal front on a scale.
Antidiarrhoeal Activity: Castor Oil Model
Onset, wet and total faeces with loperamide and atropine; % inhibition.
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