Introduction
Pharmacology education today is changing. As computer-assisted learning (CAL) and animal simulator software are increasingly being used in pharmacology, students are now able to learn drug responses interactively and ethically.
Softwares such as MyCalPharm mimic real-world experiments using computerized equipment, making intricate laboratory setups a reality as virtual pharmacology lab experiments.
Below are some essential lab instruments—digitally replicated for today's learners through pharmacology simulation software.
Student’s Organ Bath
The Student’s Organ Bath is a primary apparatus used in experimental pharmacology. It consists of a double-walled glass chamber filled with a physiological solution (like Tyrode’s or Krebs), maintained at body temperature.
Isolated tissues, such as guinea pig ileum or rat ileum, are suspended in the solution and exposed to various drugs to observe contractions or relaxations.
Functions:
- Used in dose-response curve (DRC) plotting.
- Used to calculate PD₂ and PA₂ values.
- Facilitates antagonist vs agonist experiments.
- Illustrates tissue sensitivity and drug-receptor interactions
It is used in multiple interactive pharmacology experiments and is one of the most important tool in pharmacology simulation software.
Arterial Cannula
An Arterial Cannula is a small, flexible tube inserted into an artery. In pharmacological experiments, it’s primarily used to introduce drugs into the bloodstream or to record arterial blood pressure. It provides direct access to the circulatory system, allowing real-time monitoring of drug effects on cardiovascular function.
Functions:
- Facilitates drug administration in blood vessels.
- Records blood pressure changes using connected transducers.
- Supports hemodynamic studies.
While real cannulation requires surgical skill, pharmacology lab equipment simulation offers an alternative. MyCalPharm’s animal simulator software mimics the function and outcome of cannulation, enabling students to learn concepts ethically and visually, without performing invasive procedures.
This tool is key to transitioning toward ethical pharmacology education tools.
Pithing Needle
The frog's spinal cord is physically destroyed, typically by inserting a sharp object (such as a pithing needle).
Functions:
- The pointed, sharp tip enables accurate insertion into the frog's skull to reach the brain and spinal cord with minimal external damage.
- Being a metal tool, it can be reused several times after thorough cleaning and sterilization.
Tono Pen
The Tono Pen is a portable tool employed to determine intraocular pressure (IOP)—an extremely important parameter in ophthalmic pharmacology. It's most commonly employed in rabbit eyes in experiments aimed at investigating the effects of various drugs on eye pressure, which plays a key role in investigating treatments for diseases such as glaucoma.
Functions:
- Measures eye pressure quickly and accurately.
- Evaluates ocular drug effectiveness.
- Supports studies on IOP-lowering medications.
Sherrington’s Revolving Drum Machine
This classical equipment is used in conjunction with the pithing pen. The Sherrington’s Drum rotates slowly, and as tissues contract, the pithing pen marks the movement on the smoked paper, creating a visible graph of the biological response.
Functions:
- Provides real-time recording of muscle activity.
- Essential for kinetic and dynamic drug studies.
- Visualizes dose-response curves and Schild plots.
Kymograph
The Kymograph is a traditional recording apparatus that has been widely applied in experimental pharmacology for the recording of muscle or organ contractions. It is a rotating drum that is driven by an electric or mechanical motor, to which smoked paper is mounted. A writing lever attached to the tissue traces movement patterns onto this drum, providing a visual display of physiological responses.
Functions:
- Records tissue contractions (height, duration, frequency).
- Helps in plotting Schild plots and dose-response curves.
- Facilitates accurate timing using timing markers.
- Used in PD₂ and PA₂ experiments, especially muscle tissue preparations.
Conclusion
With the development of pharmacology simulation software, it is no longer necessary for students to depend exclusively on real-time animal experiments. Software such as MyCalPharm offers virtual pharmacology practicals, where students can conduct interactive pharmacology experiments from any location, without causing harm to animals.
By recognizing how these tools function—and how they are modeled—students can close the gap between conventional laboratory setups and morally acceptable, technology-based pharmacology education.
If you are an educator, student, or institution seeking to get in line with contemporary standards, it's now time to investigate animal simulator software and make the transition toward ethical pharmacology teaching instruments.