Rats received a single training trial on a n inhibitory avoidance (passive avoidance) rats, and retention trials 24 h (R-I) and 48 h (R-II) later.The animals were subjected to 5 different trial, scheduld(s) : control, pre-trial, pre-trial plus pre-retention, pre-retention, and post-trial in a special two chambered apparatus, and the step-through latency was determined. Propranolol (6.5 mg/kg ip) increased the mean 'step-through latencies significantly in groups III & IV (P < 0.05 and group II & V (P<0.001) as compared to that in group I on R-I There was a similar increase in the retest lalatencies in groups II & III (P<0.01) and group IV & V(p <0.001), as compared to that is group I on R-II. Phenoxybenzamine (5.0 mg/kg ip) had an insignificant effect on the retest latenoes in all the groups both after 24 h and 48 h retention trials.

1. L-valine, an amino acid, was found to have marked anti-inflammatory and moderate analgesic activity The drug was orally effective in inhibiting various experimentally induced inflammatory reactions and did not show any gastric irritation in anti-inflammatory doses, 2. It was observed that the anti-inflammatory effect of L-valine was not due to a counter irritant action.

(-dimethylamino ethyl p-chloro phenyl ketone hydrochloride, a para substituted acetophenone Mannich base showed marked antihiitaminic (Hz) activity in various in vivo and in vitro test models. It selectively antagonised the histamine incuded vasodepressor activity in anaesthetised cat, broncho -constriction in guinea - pig and spasm of guinea-pig ileum in a dose dependent manner. The compound failed to inhibit the H2-receptor Mediated positive chronotropic, but could completely abolish the positive inotropy on the isolated guinea - pig atrium. The compound was however found to be less potent than diphenhydramine.

Six normal volunteers completed the study following oral administration of conventional and later slow release preparation of lithium carbonate. Mean serum levels over 24 h were calculated. The average time required to reach maximum concentration in serum was 5 h in conventional form and 6 h in case of slow release form. The maximum concentration did not differ significantly. The bio-availability of the conventional form was 79.9% of the slow release form. The volume of distribution and metabolic clearance rates for both the forms were similar. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Quercetin, a flavonoid, is a known lens aldose reductase inhibitor. When administered orally, it causes a significant delay in the initiation and. Develoment of experimentally induced galactosaemic and naphthalene cataract. These observations support the hypothesis that in galactosaemia and diabetes, aldose reductase plays a key role in the formation of cataract. Flavonoids, like qurecetin, may be therefore useful in inhibiting the devlopment of cataract in diabetes.

Twelve title compounds (III) were synthesised by the aroylation of the 4-aryl-1-(p-amino benzoyl)-piperaxines (I I), which have, inturn, been prepared by the reduction of respective 4-aryl I-(p-nitro benzoyl)-piperazines (I). The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis and the IR and PMR spectroscopy. Eight of the title compounds were found to be CNS stimulants and the rest four, CNS depressants.

Metoclopramide is devoid of significant antipsychotic action, but it may exhibit this property in combination with tolazoline, propranolol, phenobarbitone, diphenylhydantoin and mepyramine. The antipsychotic action is dose dependent on metoclopramide but the sufficient quantity of an adjuvant drug is required for triggering this action. This antipsychotic action is seen in much lower doses which do not inhibit unconditioned responses as well as forced locomotor activity. In addition metoclopramide antagonises the antipsychotic action of reserpine and haloperidol in a competitive manner, while the action of chlorpromazine is unaffected.

Eleven N-substituted derivatives of l-anilinocyclohexane-l-amide and l-p -anisidino cyclohexane-I-amide with different side chains viz. dimethylamino, di-n-butylamino, dibenzylamino, piperidino, pyrrolidino and morpholino moieties were synthesised using Mannich reaction. Anticonvulsant activity of these compounds was studied against electroshock and metrazol seizures in albino rats and against strychnine convulsions in frogs. Out of the eleven test compounds, significant protection was observed with six compounds against electroshock seizures and with eight compounds against metrazol seizures. Dibenzylamino and morpholino derivatives of both 1-anilino and 1-p-anisidino moieties showed protection against electroshock and metrazol induced convulsions. None of the test compounds antagonised strychnine convulsions in frogs. Most of the compounds that showed anticonvulsant activity produced sedation and potentiated pentobarbitone hypnosis in albino rats.

> Skin window test was performed in nineteen eases of drug allergy and nine non-allergic controls with the causative drugs as proved by the provocation test. Eleven (57 9 %) out of nineteen drug allergy cases showed a significant increase in eosinophils at drug test sites as compared with the control sites, while none of the non-allergic individuals showed such an increase. Skin window test was found useful to prove diagnosis of drug allergy in 57.9% cases studied. Performing of skin window cell counts beyond 24 h may be useful in detecting cases of drug allergy showing negative skin window teats upto 24 h.

Embelin from Embelia ribes significantly reduced the sperm count and motility and also the weight of the testes, in albino rats.

Fifty patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with lignocaine after developing ventricular tachyarrhythmias.25 patients received 75 mg as an intravenous bolus, immediately followed by an infusion of 2 mg/min and 25 patients received intramuscular treatment (300 mg.) There was no significant difference in the occurrence of tachyarrhythmia in the two groups for one hour, showing that, the dose of intramuscular lignocaine used was therapeutically effective against ventricular arrhythmias during myocardial infraction.

The effect of restraint stress (1, 2 and 4 h ) was investigated, in rats, on the antinociceptive action of a sub-analgesic dose (2.0 mg/kg, ip) of morphine. Restraint stress prduced a time-related potentiation of morphine antinociception. Stress (4 h)-induced potentiation of morphine analgesia was significantly attenuated after pretreatment with pharmacological agents known to decrease serotonergic and prostaglandin activity, but not by metyrapone, an inhibitor of endogenous corticoid synthesis. The results suggest that serotonin and prostaglandins are involved in restraint stress-morphine interaction.The results have been discussed in the context of earlier investigations, reported from this laboratory, indicating increase in rat brain serotonin and prostaglandin activity, following restraint stress. It has been suggested that restraint stress initially activates the proposed, first mediator, prostaglandins, which in turn modulates central serotonergic activity, to induce the observed potentiation of morphine analgesia by restraint stress.