SFKKB9091U In-vitro Techniques in Biochemistry and Pharmacology

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences - elective, MSc in Medicinal Chemistry - elective, Cand.Scient.Pharm. - elective, Cand.Pharm. - elective
Content
The following practical elements are included: primary cell cultures, neurotransmitter transporters, receptor activation (GPRC and ligand-gated ion-channel receptors), receptor binding, electrophysiology, second messenger measurements, enzyme fractionation, enzyme inhibition, smooth muscle contraction, CytP450 and drug metabolism, separation of lipophilic drug metabolites, use of radioisotopes, drug effects on isolated mitochondria.
Learning Outcome

Formål / Objective

A firm knowledge of in vitro pharmacology is seminal for practitioners in the pharmaceutical sciences. Thus, the objective of this course is to provide the students with abilities and skills related to common in vitro experimental methodologies as applied in pharmacology. The specific aim is to acquire the abilities and practical skills required to be able to work in a pre-clinical drug discovery research environment and/or communicate proficiently with other professionals.

Målbeskrivelse / Course outcome

General abilities
The students will acquire practical and theoretical abilities and skills in pharmacological in vitro research techniques that are applicable in both academic and biotech/pharmaceutical drug discovery research environments.

Specific abilities
By the end of the course, the students will have acquired the ability to:
  • work with and/or communicate proficiently with other professionals within the field of in vitro pharmacology
  • design simple in vitro assays of drug activity including choosing the proper model system and assay conditions
  • calculate and interpret pharmacological data (dose-response relationships)
  • apply knowledge of in vitro pharmacology to evaluate pharmacological data in relation to the drug discovery process
Specific practical skills
By the end of the course, the students will have acquired sufficient skills to be able to:
  • prepare cultures of primary mouse neurons
  • execute neurotransmitter uptake experiments employing cultured neurons
  • execute experiments to elucidate drug-induced contraction of the superior mesenteric artery isolated from rats
  • measure cAMP (second-messenger) in isolated blood vessels employing a radio-immuno assay (RIA)
  • employ isolated mouse vas deferens to measure the effect of morphine-like pain-relieving drugs
  • employ the cortical wedge model combined with electrophysiological techniques as a functional assay of drugs affecting the operation of ion channels such as ionotropic receptors
  • employ radioligand binding assays in drug investigations and interpret the resulting pharmacologial data
  • purify an enzyme employing affinity chromatography
  • perform enzyme inhibition assays
  • analyze cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of a 14C-labeled drug in a liver homogenate employing thin layer chromatography (TLC) and subsequent scintillation counting
  • isolate crude mitochondria from a rat brain or liver homogenate
  • employ isolated mitochondria to perform a simple in vitro screen of toxicity related to mitochondrial function of unknown drugs.
  • Lab manual (Pickering, Bak and Hansen)
  • Receptor theory notes (Sheykhzade and Pickering)
  • Radioisotope theory notes (Hansen and Pickering)
Students should have completed bachelor’s level lecture course(s) in biochemistry and/or pharmacology as well as a lab course in chemistry and/or biochemistry.
Lab exercises: 52 hours
Tutorials: 14 hours
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 28
  • Practical exercises
  • 52
  • Preparation
  • 126
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 2 hours under invigilation
Prøveform / Examination type:
Two-hour written exam

Prøvedesign / Examination design
The course examination will consist of approximately 20 short-answer questions covering the practical and theoretical aspects of all the laboratory exercises. All written answers will be given an equal weighting and then the course leaders will assess the overall examination performance level.
Aid
Without aids
Approved pocket calculator
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

Beskrivelse af prøven og bedømmelse / Description of examination and assessment criteria

Beståkrav / Pass criteria

In order to pass, the student should demonstrate a level of comprehension of both the practical and theoretical components of the laboratory exercises corresponding to the grade 02 (see below). The evaluation will be based on an assessment of the student’s level of understanding related to the general and specific abilities listed above and detailed below. In addition, the student must be present and take active part in the lab exercises and colloquia.

Karakterbeskrivelse / Description of grades

12 - Excellent performance
The student demonstrates a comprehensive grasp of both the practical and theoretical aspects of the techniques and theory covered in the course:
  • The student demonstrates a clear and precise knowledge of the applied terminology
  • The student is able to design a simple in vitro assay including choosing the proper model and assay conditions
  • The student demonstrates a flawless ability to calculate and interpret pharmacological data
The student is able to evaluate the impact of in vitro pharmacological data on the development of a given drug during the discovery process and to suggest the next steps in the process.

7 - Good performance

The student demonstrates an advanced level of knowledge of the techniques and theory covered in the course:
  • The student demonstrates a firm knowledge of the applied terminology
  • The student is able to design a simple in vitro assay including choosing a proper model system
  • The student is able to calculate and to some extent interpret pharmacological data
  • The student is able to relate in vitro pharmacological data to the drug discovery process
02 - Acceptable performance
The student demonstrates a basic understanding of the techniques and theory covered in the course:
  • The student demonstrates a somewhat deficient understanding of the applied terminology
  • The student demonstrates a basic understanding of how to design simple in vitro assays
  • The student demonstrates a somewhat deficient ability to calculate pharmacological data
  • The student is somewhat insecure regarding the ability to evaluate in vitro pharmacological data in relation to the drug discovery process.