1. The document describes an experiment to study the effects of drugs on ciliary motility in a frog esophagus. Physostigmine and atropine were tested. 2. Physostigmine is a cholinesterase inhibitor that prolongs the action of acetylcholine, increasing ciliary movements. Atropine is an anticholinergic that blocks acetylcholine receptors, decreasing ciliary movements. 3. The procedure involved measuring the time taken for poppy seeds to move along the esophagus under the influence of different drugs. Physostigmine decreased transit time, while atropine increased it, demonstrating their effects on ciliary motility.

1. To study effect of drug on ciliary
motility of frog oesophagus
Dr. NITIN KUMAR SEN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY
SJIPR, PALGHAR

2. Requirements
Apparatus- Dissection tray, glass plate, poppy seeds, surgical apparatus, frog wooden
board, stop watch etc.
Animal- frog
Drugs and solution- Physostigmine 10%, atropine 0.1% frog’s ringer solutions distilled
water.

3. Principle-
Cholinergic drugs cause contraction of cilia leading to increased movements -
Anticholinergic drugs cause paralysis of cilia leading to decreased movements
The ciliary movements of the oesophagus depends on the stimulating action of Ach. it is
normally secreted in the trachea and caused onward contraction of cilia.
Physostigmine acts by interfering with the metabolism of Ach and atropine works by
blocking the action of ach. A neurotransmitter that helps move electrical impulses among
nerve cells.

4. Physostigmine-
Physostigmine is a highly toxic parasympathomimetic alkaloid, specifically reversible
cholinesterase inhibitor. It occurs naturally in the calabar bean and the manchineel tree.
Physostigmine acts by interfering with the metabolism of Ach. It is a covalent ( reversible-
bond hydrolyzed and released) inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible
for the breakdown stimulates both nicotine and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

5. Atropine-
Atropine is in a class of drugs known as anticholinergic. Its work by working blocking the
actions of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps move electrical impulses among
nerve cells.
In general, atropine counters the “rest and digest” activity of glands regulated by the
parasympathetic nervous system. Atropine is a competitive antagonist of the muscarinic
acetylcholine receptor types M1, M2, M3, M4, M5. it is classified a parasympatholytic

6. Procedure-
1. Frog is decerebrated in such a way that the lower jaw and buccal cavity remains
intact. The frog is put on the wooden board with its ventral surface facing the board.
Dissection is carried out from above downwards to half way of the frog’s back. The
posterior wall of the abdominal cavity is opened to about 2.5-3.0 cm.
2. Blood is removed by cotton wetted with frog’s ringer solution. The oesophagus is
opened from the buccal cavity (side up) right up to the stomach.
3. The frog is put in shallow chamber in which air is kept moist by swabbing with hot
water cotton pads.
4. Poppy seeds of uniform size are used for the experiment.
5. For studyinh the rat of movements, two lines are marked on the glass plate at a
distance of about 2.5cm.

7. 6. In the beginning of the experiment, esophageal membrane is wetted with frog’s ringer solution and
the time taken for 10 particle of poppy seeds is first recorded and mean time is calculated.
7. Membrane is again wetted with frog’s ringer solution after half an hour to see whether similar
results are obtained.
8. For studying the action of physostigmine, esophagus membrane is treated with physostigmine
solution, prepared in the frog’s ringer. Ten poppy seeds are used and the mean time for the transit is
noted.
9. This experiment is again carried out after half an hour for confirming the results. If two
consecutive results vary then their mean should be taken as the final, provided the variation is not
vary large.

8. Observation table
Sr. no. Drug Time taken for ciliary movement (sec)
Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3
1. Frog ringer solution 30 sec 32 sec 30 sec
2. Physostigmine 14 sec 14 sec 16 sec
3. Atropine 42 sec 44 sec 45 sec

10. Result
Physostigmine takes short time to increase the movement and atropine required less time
for movement. Physostigmine increases the rate and atropine decreases the rate of ciliary
movements.