FibreMaster

Our FibreMaster semi automated recording system has been designed to help relieve the bottle neck of electrophysiological canine purkinje recording when used for safety pharmacological testing and to give more repeatable recordings.

Traditionally, one researcher was able to work on one purkinje fibre at a time which is both animal wasteful and productivity inefficient. Solutions to be tested were more than often manually selected and the temperature the fibre was held at only checked at points throughout the day.

Our novel purkinje recording system not only allows the more productive use of animals by utilising three fibres per experiment but also automates the solution handlingand constantly control the temperature the fibre is kept at during the experiment.

According to the latestguidelines from FDA and EMEA, safety pharmacology for human pharmaceuticalsis supposed toinclude in-vitro assays toassess the potential for delayed ventricular repolarization (QT interval prolongation). As QTprolongation can cause arrhythmiaand death, the safety pharmacologyundertaken in this respect is essential.The guidelines clearly requires an assay of QT prolongation in the core battery. These assays mayvary from tests focussing on relevant ionic currents (mainly Ikr HERG) to organotypic assays (Langendorff Heart, isolated Purkinje Fibres).

These techniques are time consuming and requirehighly experienced staff performing electrophysiological recordings. This means that the costs ofthis type of screening work are very high and, because of its nature, can cause a bottleneck in thedrug discovery process. Scientifica have developed a semi-automated system which allows one trained operator to run upto three assays at one time. It is hoped that this will not only lead to a much higher throughput ofdata but will also optimise the use of animals.

The use of animals in scientific procedures is regulatedin the UK by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Europe (86/609-EEC) and theUSA (NIH Publication 85-23, revised 1985). The regulations offer a high level of protection to animalswhilst at the same time recognising the need to use animals in scientific research for the developmentof new medicines. The UK Act states that, whenever possible, any strategy whichminimises animal use, without compromising the quality of the scientific work, should be pursued,consistent with the three Rs (reduction, refinement, replacement; Russell and Burch, 1959).

Our FibreMaster semi automated recording system has been designed to help relieve the bottle neck of electrophysiological canine purkinje recording when used for safety pharmacological testing and to give more repeatable recordings.

Traditionally, one researcher was able to work on one purkinje fibre at a time which is both animal wasteful and productivity inefficient. Solutions to be tested were more than often manually selected and the temperature the fibre was held at only checked at points throughout the day.

Our novel purkinje recording system not only allows the more productive use of animals by utilising three fibres per experiment but also automates the solution handlingand constantly control the temperature the fibre is kept at during the experiment.

According to the latestguidelines from FDA and EMEA, safety pharmacology for human pharmaceuticalsis supposed toinclude in-vitro assays toassess the potential for delayed ventricular repolarization (QT interval prolongation). As QTprolongation can cause arrhythmiaand death, the safety pharmacologyundertaken in this respect is essential.The guidelines clearly requires an assay of QT prolongation in the core battery. These assays mayvary from tests focussing on relevant ionic currents (mainly Ikr HERG) to organotypic assays (Langendorff Heart, isolated Purkinje Fibres).

These techniques are time consuming and requirehighly experienced staff performing electrophysiological recordings. This means that the costs ofthis type of screening work are very high and, because of its nature, can cause a bottleneck in thedrug discovery process. Scientifica have developed a semi-automated system which allows one trained operator to run upto three assays at one time. It is hoped that this will not only lead to a much higher throughput ofdata but will also optimise the use of animals.

The use of animals in scientific procedures is regulatedin the UK by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Europe (86/609-EEC) and theUSA (NIH Publication 85-23, revised 1985). The regulations offer a high level of protection to animalswhilst at the same time recognising the need to use animals in scientific research for the developmentof new medicines. The UK Act states that, whenever possible, any strategy whichminimises animal use, without compromising the quality of the scientific work, should be pursued,consistent with the three Rs (reduction, refinement, replacement; Russell and Burch, 1959).

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