Detection Of Drug Effects Research Articles

An automated direct-injection HPLC-method for the electrochemical/fluorimetric quantitation of monoamines and related compounds optimized for the screening of large numbers of animals.

An automated, highly stable HPLC system is described allowing the quantitation of monoamines and related compounds with virtually online data processing and statistical evaluation of the mean values of various differently treated groups of animals. The system is highly suited to the screening of drugs involving large numbers of samples. To ensure long-term, uninterrupted performance, two robust chromatographic systems were developed optimized to separate neighboring peaks as widely as possible. This was achieved by using mobile phases of relatively low pH to retard acidic compounds, and optimal concentrations of the ion-pairing reagent to manipulate the retention times of amines on the RP-18 column, resulting also in clearcut separations from the solvent/tissue peak. Direct injection of deproteinized tissue samples, requiring no clean up procedures is used. One faster system allows measurement of the main biogenic amines, metabolites and TRP, whereas another system allows the simultaneous quantitation of DOPA, 5HTP, NA, MOPEG, NMN, A, MN, VMA, DA, 3MT, DOPAC, HVA, 5HT, 5HIAA and TYR. By pretreatment of animals with a decarboxylase inhibitor the latter system offers the possibility of detecting drug effects in the same animal on either dopamine and serotonin turnover or noradrenaline and serotonin turnover, depending on the brain area chosen. The system described has been running for over a year without major disturbance and with minimal technician attendance.

Drugs and race-horse performance

Since 1900, stimulant drugs have been used illegally to improve the performance of racing horses. Classic performance trials with small numbers of horses have failed to detect drug effects on maximal performance. Careful characterization of the responses of horses to illegal drugs, followed by studies in large numbers of racing horses are required to demonstrate performance effects of drugs in horses. In an article which contains no TiPs tips, Thomas Tobin and his colleagues describe and analyse the various ‘dope tests’ that have been used and discuss their impact on the racing world.

A simple method for detecting drug effects on the DNA of mammalian cells

A simple method for detecting drug or X-ray effects on the DNA of intact cells is described. This method uses an easily constructed viscometer to measure changes in the viscosity of alkaline cell lysates. The method has been tested by comparing the effects of 4′-[(9-acridinyl)amino]methanesulfon- o-anisidide ( oAMSA), 4′-[(9-acridinyl)amino]methanesulfon- m-anisidide ( mAMSA), daunorubicin, and adriamycin on cellular DNA.

Is the Assessment of Dyspnoea by Visual Analogue Scales Sensitive Enough to Detect Drug Effects?

Is the Assessment of Dyspnoea by Visual Analogue Scales Sensitive Enough to Detect Drug Effects?

An improved method for detecting drug effects in the open field.

A double test cross-over design was applied to the testing of rats in the open field. When used to examine the effects of atropine, chlorpromazine and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on open field behaviour, this design proved 4--40 times more sensitive than the previously popular single test design. In no case was the double test design less sensitive. Results are discussed in relation to screening of medically useful compounds.