1. Effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intravenous (i.v.) injection of dopamine (DA), 12.5- 400 (g/kg on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were studied in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and compared with 2 other models of hypertension and their normotensive controls. 2. Blood pressure decreased significantly in SHR after i.c.v. DA when compared to hypertensive and normotensive controls in a dose-related manner. 3. HR decreased in all cases except that at a dose of more than 25(gDA/kg in SHR an increase was seen. 4. The results support the hypothesis for a central dopaminergic insufficiency in SHR.

1. Indocyanine green clearance was studied in eight undernourished subjects. 2. The data showed that in mild to moderately, undernourished adult males, the plasma concentration of ICG were low, the t 0.5 tended to prolong, as a result of increased volume of distribution. 3. However, the ICG clearance was not found to be affected indicating that the clearance of drugs with a high hepatic extraction ratio is unlikely to be altered in these subjects.

1. The effect of commercially available solution of diazepam and its solvent was investigatedon frog rectus abdominis muscle and sciatic nerve-gastrornemius muscle preparation of-dog. 2. Diazepam and diazepam solvent both equally potentiated acetylcholine induced contracture and both also partially but equally antagonized gallamine induced inhibition of acetylcholine contracture on isolated rectus abdominis muscle of frog. 3. Diazepam and diazepam solvent both antagonized gallamine induced blockade, while augmented that produced by succinylcholine on the sciatic nerve gastrocnemius muscle preparation of dog. 4. The present study suggests that decurarizing effect of commercially available solution of diazepam reported earlier is not of diazepam itself but of its solvent only.

1. Effect of change in bath temperature on the responses to various agonists (NA, KCl, and methoxamine) were investigated in rat isolated vas deferens in the presence of various blockers. 2. Reducing the bath temperature from 37øC to 24øC potentiated (P<0.05) the responses to exogenously added NA and KC1 while depressed (P<0.05) those to methoxamine. 3. Cocaine potentiated (p<0.05) the responses to NA more at 37øC than at 24ø C bath temperature. 4. Normetanephrine and nialamide potentiated the responses to higher concentrations of NA at 37øC, at 24øC their effects were variable. 5. Pyrogallol had no effect on the responses to NA at 37øC and 24øC. 6. The results suggest that the effects of cooling on the responses to NA may be due to summation of its many effects namely inhibition of metabolising enzymes (MAO and COMT) and blockade of uptake mechanisms.

1. In the present study, specific alpha-1 antagonist prazosin, alpha-2 antagonist yohimbine and beta adrenergic antagonist propranolol were used either alone or in combination to evaluate their effect on adrenaline induced hyperglycaemic response. 2. It was observed that pretreatment with each one of these agents could bring about significant inhibition of hyperglycemic effect. 3. However, almost complete inhibition of hyperglycaemic effect could be achieved only when either alpha-1 antagonist or alpha-2 antagonist were combined with beta adrenergic antagonist. Combined therapy using alpha-1 antagonist and alpha-2 antagonist did not show any synergistic action. 4. The results suggested that both alpha and beta receptors are involved in hyperglycemic effect but role of alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptors is more or less same.

1. Normal and adrenalectomized fasted rats were injected with either hydrazine (0.7 and 1 mMol/ kg) or 0.15 M Nacl and changes in the serum and liver lipids were measured during48 h. 2. in the normal rats hydrazine increased triacylglycerol cholestrol esters and phospholipids for the 1st 24 h. Free cholesterol showed only slight elevation at48 h. In serum, triacylglycerol rose above control levels at 24 h, phospholids elevated up to 48 h, cholestryl esters decreased for 24 hand then rose at 48 h and free cholestrol did not change. 3. Hydrazine in adrenalectomized rats (0.7 mMol /kg) did not cause significant changes in their serum and liver lipids.

1. Scoparone produced a rapid and sustained fall of blood pressure in anaesthetized normotensive and experimental hypertensive animals and conscious normotensive rats. The effect was dose related, appeared immediately after i.v. and within I5-20 min after p.o. administration and lasted for 2-5 h. 2. The hypertensive animals were more sensitive to the effect of scoparone than normotensive. 3. The antihypertensive effect of scoparone appears to be the results of both the central as well as peripheral actions.

1. Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) on hydrochlorothiazide (HT) induced urine volume, urinary sodium, potassium and creatinine excretion were examined in conscious rats. 2. The diuretic activity, and the increased urinary sodium and potassium excretion elicited by HT (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) were inhibited after oral administration of NSAlDS like indomethacin (ID), oxyphenbutazone (OPB), ibuprofen (IBF) and naproxen (NAP), in doses which inhibited the rat carrageenin induced hind paw oedema. 3. Ibuprofen was most Potent and Naproxen was least Poent in antagonising both diuretic and Natriuretic activity.

1. Aqueous extract of Myrtus communis. leaves shows a negative inotropic effect in isolated guinea pig atria and atropine 10-5M did not block this effect. 2. The total extract caused concentration dependent depressive effect in anaesthetised rabbit which was not attenuated with propranolol 10- 5M, cimetidine l0-4 M and atropine 10-4 M but blocked by theophyline l0-4M 3. These results suggest the Presence of adenosine-like compound in this extract 4. In addition the extract has shown antibacterial and antifungal activity.