CardioLab costs less than a single dog or cat, yet can be used repeatedly to simulate chart recorder outputs of experiments on anesthetised (normal or reserpinised) animals and pithed animals. The simulated heart rate and blood pressure traces appear on screen and can be printed out.CardioLab allows 'administration' of the following drugs:
Agonists
Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
Angiotensin
Vasopressin
DMPP
Epinephrine (adrenaline)
Tyramine
Phenylephrine
B-HT 920
Isoproterenol (isopren-aline)
Acetylcholine
Antagonists
Hexamethonium
Propranolol
Prazosin
Atropine
Mepyramine
Ranitidine
Yohimbine
Atenolol
Nifedipine
Phenoxybenzamine
Cocaine
Neostigmine
CardioLab can also mimic stimulation of vagal and sympathetic cardiac nerves. Effects of blockers 'wear off' at a rate corresponding to their t1/2. 'Overdoses' with agonists or blockers will 'kill' the preparation. Responses are subject to 'biological variation' and are influenced by cardiac compensatory reflexes if appropriate. Tachyphylaxis is seen with relevant agonists. CardioLab even simulates the slow deterioration of a preparation which may 'die' unexpectedly after six hours of 'preparation time' (responses appear instantaneously but represent about 3 min of 'preparation time'). CardioLab can provide 'unknown' drugs for characterisation by students.