Unit I

Laboratory Animals: Study of CPCSEA and OECD guidelines for maintenance, breeding and conduct of experiments on laboratory animals, Common lab animals: Description and applications of different species and strains of animals. Popular transgenic and mutant animals. Techniques for collection of blood and common routes of drug administration in laboratory animals, Techniques of blood collection and euthanasia.

(08 Hours)

Unit II

Preclinical screening models

1. Introduction: Dose selection, calculation and conversions, preparation of drug solution/suspensions, grouping of animals and importance of sham negative and positive control groups. Rationale for selection of animal species and sex for the study.
2. Study of screening animal models forDiuretics, nootropics, anti-Parkinson’s,antiasthmatics,

Preclinical screening models: for CNS activity- analgesic, antipyretic,anti-inflammatory, general anaesthetics, sedative and hypnotics, antipsychotic, antidepressant, antiepileptic, antiparkinsonism, alzheimer’s disease

(10 Hours)

Unit III

Preclinical screening models: for ANS activity, sympathomimetics, sympatholytics, parasympathomimetics, parasympatholytics, skeletal muscle relaxants, drugs acting on eye, local anaethetics

(10 Hours)

Unit IV

Preclinical screening models: for CVS activity- antihypertensives, diuretics, antiarrhythmic, antidyslepidemic, anti aggregatory, coagulants, and anticoagulants

Preclinical screening models for other important drugs like antiulcer, antidiabetic, anticancer and antiasthmatics.

(10 Hours)

Unit V

Research methodology and Bio-statistics Selection of research topic, review of literature, research hypothesis and study design
Pre-clinical data analysis and interpretation using Students ‘t’ test and One-way ANOVA. Graphical representation of data

(05 Hours)

‘Experimental Pharmacology – Theory’ is a course offered in the eighth semester of B. Pharm program at School of Pharmacy, Health Sciences campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Course Duration: 45 Hours

Scope:

This subject is designed to impart the basic knowledge of preclinical studies in experimental animals including design, conduct and interpretations of results.

Objectives:

Upon completion of the course the student shall be able to,

1. Appreciate the applications of various commonly used laboratory animals.
2. Appreciate and demonstrate the various screening methods used in preclinical research
3. Appreciate and demonstrate the importance of biostatistics and research methodology
4. Design and execute a research hypothesis independently

Recommended Books (Latest Editions)

1. Fundamentals of experimental Pharmacology-by M.N.Ghosh
2. Hand book of Experimental Pharmacology-S.K.Kulakarni
3. CPCSEA guidelines for laboratory animal facility.
4. Drug discovery and Evaluation by Vogel H.G.
5. Drug Screening Methods by Suresh Kumar Gupta and S. K. Gupta
6. Introduction to biostatistics and research methods by PSS Sundar Rao and J Richard