The use of a microcomputer for collecting screening data and for conducting range finding experiments on muscle relaxant drugs

This report describes a method that has been developed to use an Apple II Plus microcomputer in data collection, data analysis, and transfer of raw and summary data to a data base that is maintained on a larger computer. The compounds being screened are potential skeletal muscle relaxants acting at the neuromuscular junction. The microcomputer produces a CRT (cathode ray tube) display resembling the data sheets previously used in a drug screening project. It prompts the user to enter the following data through the keyboard: compound number, date, drug solution, animal weight, desired compound dose. From the entered data, the microcomputer calculates and displays the appropriate injection volume so that a technician will be shown the exact dose that is to be injected into the test animal. Following injection, the mouse is immediately placed on an inclined screen as described by Pradham and De [1953]. Times to onset and offset of muscle paralysis are entered and displayed on the CRT. For lower doses, the effects of the drug on respiration are recorded. After these primary data are recorded, all other relevant data are elicited by a menu of appropriate pharmacological questions. Data from each animal are stored in a random access file on a 5.25‐in. floppy disk. From these files tabular and narrative reports of the drug's effects can be automatically generated. The data are also sent by telephone modem to a data base that is maintained on a larger computer for access by chemists in structure–activity studies. This method has greatly increased the speed and efficiency of data collection and report generation. Furthermore, it has allowed the raw data to be easily searched and reviewed in subsequent structure–activity studies. Because this data collection system is small and self‐contained, it may be mobed easily to different testing sites.