Pharmacology is the study of how drugs act upon living systems. It's an interesting discipline that teaches us about how medications act, how they impact our bodies, and how we can create more effective disease treatments. In this blog, we will guide you through some of the experiments students have performed using MyCalPharm, a software that Simulates Pharmacological Experiments. Whether you're a student, a reading enthusiast, or interested in science, this blog will provide you with an overview of the world of pharmacology in a plain and easy-to-comprehend manner.
1. Effects of Drugs on Rabbit Eye
Have you ever wondered how eye drops work? In this experiment, we learned how various drugs impact a rabbit's eye. For instance, some drugs constrict the pupil (such as in bright light), while others dilate it (such as in the dark). This informs us about how such drugs could be applied to cure eye diseases in humans, like glaucoma or infections.
2. Bioassay of Histamine on Guinea Pig Ileum
Histamine is a body chemical involved in allergies and digestion. We employ a guinea pig's intestine to experiment with how histamine influences it. We measure the responses and can determine the amount of histamine and how drugs can be used to prevent its effects. This helps create medications to treat allergies.
3. Effect of Drugs on Ciliary Motility of Frog Oesophagus
The esophagus is the tube that food travels in from your mouth to your stomach. In frogs, very fine hair-like objects called cilia assist in moving the food. In this experiment, we observe how drugs influence the movement of these cilia. This tells us how drugs can enhance or damage digestion.
4. Effect of Drugs on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate of Dogs
High blood pressure is a universal issue in human beings, and numerous medications are formulated to counteract it. In our experiment, we learned about how various drugs impact the blood pressure and heart rate of a dog. This allows us to see how these drugs can be used in humans to help treat cardiovascular issues.
5. Effect of Drugs on Isolated Frog Heart
The heart is a very crucial organ in the body. In this lab, we take out a frog's heart and observe the way drugs alter its beat. Certain drugs increase the heart rate, while others decrease it. This assists us in creating medicine for heart complications.
6. Bioassay of Histamine on Guinea Pig Ileum - Matching Assay
This is analogous to the histamine bioassay, except that we are comparing the action of histamine on a guinea pig's intestine against a control sample. This allows us to quantify the potency of histamine and how drugs may inhibit its action.
7. Experimental Animals Routinely Used in Pharmacological Research
Animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs are frequently utilized in drug tests. Each of the animals has features that are used for particular tests. For instance, rabbits are frequently employed for testing eyes, whereas rats are employed for studying brains. The experiment describes why these animals are selected and how they aid in understanding human biology.
8. Routes of Drug Administration
How do we administer drugs to animals in experiments? This experiment investigates how drugs can be administered differently, for example, by mouth, injection, or skin. Each has its merits and assists us in determining the best way to administer drugs.
9. Euthanasia in Experimental Animals
When an experiment ends, one must humanely put an end to an animal's life to avoid causing unnecessary pain. The ethical approach to euthanasia is covered in this experiment to make sure animals are handled with care and respect.
10. Collection of Biological Samples from Experimental Animals
Following an experiment, researchers may need to harvest samples such as blood, tissues, or organs for analysis. This experiment describes how these samples are harvested safely and ethically.
11. Dose Calculations in Experimental Pharmacology
How do researchers determine how much of a drug to administer to an animal? This experiment describes the calculation of doses based on the animal's size and weight. It is very important to get the dose right to get reliable results.
12. Isolated Frog Heart (Using Kymograph)
A kymograph is an instrument that measures the heartbeat of a frog. In this experiment, we learned about how drugs influence the rhythm and strength of the heart. This assists us in creating medicines for heart diseases.
13. Evaluation of Antihistaminic Activity of Drugs Using Mast Cell Degranulation in vitro
Antihistamines are medicines used to cure allergies. In this experiment, we examine how these medicines prevent mast cells (a kind of immune cell) from releasing histamine, which leads to allergy symptoms such as sneezing and itching.
14. Dose Response Curves
A dose-response curve is a plot of the way varying quantities of a drug impact a tissue or organ. This lab describes how these curves are formed and why they are necessary to understand drug action.
15. Determinations of PD2 and PA2
PD2 and PA2 are values that indicate how powerful a drug is or how powerful another drug blocks it. The following experiment details the calculation and the implication of such values when discovering new drugs.
16. Bioassay
A bioassay refers to a process in which a drug or a chemical is determined through its response when tested with a living tissue or animal. This experiment is designed to help create new medicine by using bioassays.
17. Effect of Drugs on Locomotor Activity in Mice
How do drugs influence the movement of a mouse? In this experiment, we test the effect of drugs on the ability of a mouse to move, and it allows us to know whether a drug is stimulating or sedating.
18. Screening of Anxiolytic Activity Using Elevated Plus Maze
Anxiolytics are medications that inhibit anxiety. In this experiment, we utilize a maze to determine if a drug inhibits anxiety in mice by monitoring how much they investigate open spaces compared to closed spaces.
19. Determination of the Anticonvulsant Effect of Phenytoin in Mice
Phenytoin is a medication for the treatment of seizures. In this experiment, we are testing the ability of phenytoin to prevent or reduce seizures in mice.
20. Screening of CNS Depressant and Muscle Relaxant Drugs Using Rota-Rod
CNS depressants and muscle relaxants are medications that quiet the brain or relax muscles. In this experiment, we use a rotating rod to determine if a drug affects a mouse's balance and coordination.
21. Demonstration of Analgesic Effect Using Eddy’s Hot Plate Method
Analgesics are medications for pain. In this experiment, we experimented with how effectively a drug can alleviate pain in mice on a hot plate. This assists us in creating more effective pain medicines.
22. Determination of the Antipsychotic Effect of Haloperidol in Rats
Haloperidol is a medication for treating mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. In this experiment, we experimented with its effects on rats to learn about how it functions in humans.
23. Pyrogen Testing Using Rabbit Method
Pyrogens are chemicals that induce fever. In this experiment, we screen drugs for pyrogens in rabbits to make sure they're safe for humans.
24. SHAY Model Pylorus Ligation Model in Rats
This experiment examines whether drugs can prevent ulcers in rats' stomachs. It aids us in coming up with treatments for ulcers in humans.
25. Morphine Using Tail Flick Method: Analgesiometer
Morphine is an effective painkiller. We experiment its effect on pain in mice with a tail flick approach here. This will reveal to us how morphine functions and how we can make safer painkillers.
Conclusion
Pharmacology is a very interesting science that provides us insight into how drugs function and how drugs can be employed to cure diseases. With these experiments using MyCalPharm, I've acquired a greater understanding of the science of medicines. Whether it is researching how drugs affect the heart of a frog or testing painkillers on mice, every experiment is taking us one step forward towards creating more effective treatments for humans. I hope this blog has provided you with a clear and easy-to-understand overview of pharmacology.