ExPharm - Rabbit

Effects of Drugs on the Rabbit Eye

Contents
Info
Introduction
Requirements
Drugs and Solutions
Set up
Tutorial Mode
How to use the software?
Contact

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Software - Info
- For whom?
- Aim
- Usage
- Availability
- Installation
- Hardware requirements
- Un-installation

For whom is the software?

ExPharm-Rabbit is meant for undergraduate students (UGs) doing a course in Pharmacology.

The software can be used for Medical and Dental UGs and also for the students of paramedical
courses such as nursing, pharmacy, medical laboratory technology and physiotherapy.

What is the software for?

The software simulates drug effects on the rabbit eye. It is aimed at helping the UGs remember
drug actions. It can be used to teach research methodology (Examination mode-available with
ver E1.00) also. Examinations can be conducted using the software (ver E1.00 only).

That is too brief. Some more details please.....?

The software simulates the actions drugs such as physostigmine, atropine, ephedrine,
epinephrine and lignocaine on pupil size, corneal and light reflexes and intraocular tension. The
user can instill the drugs on the eye and observe their effects which can be compared with
saline effect. He/she can test the reflexes using a torch and a cotton wool provided. The
intraocular tension is indicated. The readings can be noted and a table of observations can be
made using the model table provided.

Where is it available?

It is available at www.indphar.org and can be downloaded. It is also available on ExPharm CD.

How do I install it on my computer?

You can install from the CD by running Setup.Exe. Or visit www.indphar.org and follow the
instructions given at the website.

What are the hardware requirements?

The recommended hardware is :

Pentium PC running Windows.

SVGA Color Monitor - set at 800x600 resolution and 24 bit True color
Mouse

Note :
1. The monitor resolution must be set at 800x600 before running the software.
The software does not adjust itself to different resolutions. Do not reset the
resolution when you run the software.

2. For the best results use 24 bit True color. Since the program uses scanned
images from photographs, image quality suffers in 16 color and 256 color
schemes.

But this will not have any effect on running the program.

What operating system does it work with?

Windows.

It does NOT work under Windows 3.x. The software is NOT available for other platforms (Mac
or Unix).

Do I need any other software to run ExPharm-Rabbit?

Yes. You need a PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader to display the help files..

What is the price?

Nothing. It is absolutely free.

How do I uninstall the software?

Uninstall option is provided with the software. You can also use Add/Remove option in the
Windows control panel to uninstall the software. Start->Settings->Control panel->Add/Remove
programs->Expharm.

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Introduction
The Iris is composed of two types of muscle fibres, the circular and the radial. The circular
fibres are supplied by parasympathetic nerve fibres and the radial ones are innervated by
sympathetic nerve fibres. The stimulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves produces
mydriasis and miosis respectively and their paralysis produces opposite effects.

Drugs which simulate the effects of autonomic nervous system can produce the above
mentioned effects. This experiment uses a few such drugs on the rabbit eye.

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Requirements
1. Rabbits,
2. Rabbit holder,
3. Measuring scale,
4. Droppers,
5. Torch,
6. Cotton wool.

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Drug & Solutions

1. Normal saline
2. Physostigmine 0.5%
3. Atropine sulphate 1.0%
4. Ephedrine 0.5%
5. Adrenaline hydrochloride 0.1%
6. Lignocaine hydrochloride 1.0%

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Set up
A rabbit is fixed in a rabbit holder. The eyelashes are clipped.

Rabbit in a holder : Side view Back view

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Tutorial Mode
Objective :

To find out the effects of a few drugs on the size of the pupil, light reflex and intraocular tension
of the rabbit eye.

Procedure :

- Measure the diameter of both the pupils. Note the intraocular tension (Low, Normal or High).
Test light and corneal reflexes. Do not forget to note down the readings.

- Keep one eye (either right or left eye) as control and the other as test.

- Apply saline in the control eye and a drug in the test eye.

- Repeat measurements - diameter of pupils, intraocular tension and reflexes

- Tabulate your readings. Draw conclusions.

- Answer the questions displayed.

Note :

- Use saline control for all drugs.

- Measurements must be recorded before and after adding saline or drugs.

- Use only one drug on a rabbit. Use fresh rabbits to test drugs.

- Use the scale provided to measure the pupil size. Each division is1 mm.

- Model table is available.

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How to use the software?

When the program is run, an opening screen (logo) is displayed. This is followed by menu page.

Menu Page :

- After the logo disappears, menu page is displayed.

- At the menu page click any one of the following buttons:

1. Instruction - displays help

2. Tutorial - invokes the experiment in tutorial mode
3. Examination - starts examination. Disabled.
4. Exit - Quits and closes the experiment.

- If you click Tutorial, experiment page appears.

Experiment Page :

- Experiment page is divided into many boxes:

1. Direction box

displays direction to do the experiment.

2. Help Box
suggests steps to be followed. Clicking the 'Instruction' button
displays help file.

3. Right Eye / Left Eye Box

 shows the eyes and the magnified images of eyes. A scale is
provided with magnified images to measure the pupil size.
The level of intraocular pressure is indicated by a bar.

4. Drug box
helps to choose the drug and instill it on the eye of choice. Indicates
the drug chosen.

5. Tool box
provides torch and cotton wool to test light and corneal reflexes.

6. Exit box
includes the following buttons. Click
New - to change the rabbit.
Table - to display model table.
Next - to end the experiment
Return - to abort and be back to main menu.

- Take control readings before adding saline or drug.

- Record the parameters. The pupil size is measured on the image. Use the torch and the
cotton wool on the eye but the effect will appear on the image.

- You can 'drag & drop' the scale at an appropriate place to measure the pupil size. Each
division on the scale represents 1 mm.

- 'Click & carry' the tools (torch and cotton wool) to test reflexes. On clicking on the icon, the
cursor will transform into torch or cotton wool. Carry it to the eye to be tested. Observe the
response. Click again and the tool will disappear.

- Click 'Instill Drug' button. Choose the eye by clicking the button 'Left eye' or 'Right eye'. You
will see dropper dropping the drug on the chosen eye.

- Wait for a few minutes for complete response. Take measurements.

- Note down the readings on a sheet. Use the model table to design a format.

- Test all drugs available. For each drug use a new rabbit by clicking 'New'. New rabbit can also
be obtained by clicking on the rabbit figure that appears on the top. It also shows the number of
the rabbit in use.

- After completion, click 'Next'.

In Tutorial mode, a set of questions will be displayed. Note them and find out the answers.
Record them.

In Examination mode, you will be asked for the password to proceed. On typing the password,
the results will be displayed. This is mainly to help the examiner to verify the results recorded
by the examinee.

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Contact
Your suggestions and criticisms on the software are most welcome. Please send them to
[email protected] or [email protected]

Clarifications / queries about the software can also be answered. E-mail them please.

Postal Address :
R.Raveendran
Department of Pharmacology
JIPMER
Pondicherry - 605 006
INDIA

Sorry. No telephone or fax support.

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Visit www.indphar.org to
download the latest version.