To explain pharmacological mechanisms underpinning pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug toxicity.

To plan and execute a series of experiments to explore drug distribution, drug metabolism, drug toxicity, drug receptor interactions and the effects of drugs on behaviour.

To analyse data, interpret validity and apply statistical analyses.

Lecture - Lectures to introduce topics

15-20 minutes x 10 presentations to introduce the theory for each session. The lecturer will describe the theoretical principles underpinning the experimental or computer based work and will provide a general overview of the practical.

Laboratory Work - This refers to practical sessions in laboratories

21 = 7 session of 3 hours each. Students are working in groups of about 20 and will conduct the experimental work in pairs in order to favour discussion and critical thinking.

Workshop - This refers to computer based simulations delivered in the University

6 = 3 workshop of 2 hours each. The workshop are computer based sessions during which the students will run simulated experiments and elaborate data.

> PRACTICAL 1 (Vas deferens)

On completing this practical, students will (a) be able to operate the experimental set-up required to obtain concentration-response curves using the rat isolated vas deferens, (b) be able to prepare drug solutions of known concentration from an initial stock dilution, (c) understand the relationship between drug concentration and response, and be able to demonstrate this relationship graphically, and (d) understand the effect o f an uptake blocker on the response to sympathomimetic drugs. 

> PRACTICAL 2 (Structure activity relationship)

On completing this practical, students will (a) understand the relationship between drug concentration and response, and be able to demonstrate this relationship graphically, (b) understand the effect of an uptake blocker or antagonists on the response to sympathomimetic drugs, and (c) identify the main adrenoceptor type that mediates the response to noradrenaline in the vas deferens tissue

> PRACTICAL 3 (Drug metabolism phase II)

On completing this practical, students will (a) understand the principles underlying phase II drug metabolism and how it can be assessed in an in vitro system, (b) be able to calculate the rate of formation of p-nitrophenyl glucuronide through measurement of the rate of disappearance of p-nitrophenol from an incubation mixture containing enzymes and appropriate cofactors, (c) understand the effect of phenobarbitone on the glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol, and (d) demonstrate the differences in physicochemical properties of p-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenyl glucuronide through thin-layer chromatography.

> PRACTICAL 4 (Cardiovascular pharmacology)

On completing this practical, students will (a) be able to describe the effects of noradrenaline, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on the contractile response of an arterial ring tissue preparation, (b) understand the influence of the endothelium on vascular responses, (c) be able to describe the effects of noradrenaline, adrenaline, isoprenaline and relevant antagonists on blood pressure and heart rate, (d) understand the mechanisms of action of the above drugs.

> PRACTICAL 5 (Receptors)

On completing this practical, students will (a) be able to prepare drug solutions of known concentration from a stock solution, (b) gain practical experience of measuring ligand binding using filter binding techniques, (c) be able to calculate ligand affinities from plots of data obtained from competitive binding assays, and (d) appreciate the utility and importance of se lective ligands in pharmacology and drug development.

> PRACTICAL 6 (Guinea pig ileum)

On completing this practical, students will (a) know how to set up an isolated tissue preparation and prepare drug solutions of defined concentration, (b) understand the relationship between drug concentration and biological response and appreciate variability in biological response, (c) understand the concept of a receptor agonist and antagonist and be able to identify a competitive and non-competitive antagonist, and (d) know how to report and interpret the findings from experimental concentration-response data.

> PRACTICAL 7 (Drug metabolism phase I)

On completing this practical, students will (a) understand the principles underlying phase I drug metabolism and how it can be assessed in an in vitro system, (b) be able to measure the rate of O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole through determination of the product of the reaction, p-nitrophenol, by spectrophotometry, and (c) be able to estimate graphically enzyme kinetic parameters and understand the effects of inhibitors and inducers on the values of these parameters.

> PRACTICAL 8 (Drug toxicity)

On completing this practical, students will (a) know the major routes of metabolism of clozapine, (b) understand the role of metabolism in clozapine toxicity, (c) be able to differentiate between major forms of cell death (apoptosis and necrosis), and (d) be able to explain the concept of organ-directed toxicity.

> PRACTICAL 9 (Behaviour)

On completing this practical, students will (a) be familiar with the purposes of mazes in the analysis of animal behaviour, (b) understand the role of cholinergic nerve activi ty in memory formation, and (c) be able to plan a simple experiment to measure the effects of drugs on memory in experimental animals.

> PRACTICAL 10 (Drug distribution)

On completing this practical, students will (a) understand that drugs can bind to plasma proteins and that this can affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, (b) be able to use an ultrafiltration device to measure the binding of sulphanilamide and sulphadimidine to albumin, and to demonstrate the effect of the competing drug phenylbutazone, (c) be familiar with the Bratton & Marshall assay for quantifying sulphonamides, and (d) be able to calculate the percentage of unbound drug in a reaction.