1. Effects of captopril on responses to various agonists were investigated in isolated guinea-pig vas deferens. 2. Captopril(2.3 x lO-4M) enhanced the contractile responses to noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) and to field stimulation (1 Hz and 10 Hz) but did not affect those to potassium chloride and histamine. 3. Single or combined treatment with normetanephrine (1.2x lO-5M), pargyline (5.2 x 10-5M) and tropolone (2 x 10-6M) enhanced the NA responses; addition of captopril, produced further potentiation of NA response. 4. Treatment with cocaine (1 x 10-5M) or combined treatment with cocaine and normetanephrine, pargyline and tropolone caused potentiation of the NA responses and these enhanced responses remained unaltered in the presence of captopril. 5. It is concluded that captopril induced potentiation of the NA responses in guinea-pig vas deferens may be mediated through its neuronal uptake blocking property.

1. A 60 week study on the regression of cardiac hypertrophy was carried out in hypertensive patients receiving propranolol and clonidine. 2. M mode echocardiography 6 weekly for ventricular wall and cavity dimensions and ventricular function revealed decrease in internal dimensions, wall thickness and cardiac mass from 12-18 weeks onwards. 3. Regression of cardiac hypertrophy did not last beyond 42 weeks even with continued treatment of propranolol and clonidine.

1. Pharmacokinetic studies of sulphacetamide (SAC), sulphadimidine (SDM) and sulphanilamide (SNL) were conducted in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats injected iv at dose rate of 50 mg/kg. 2. The semilogarithmic graph of plasma concentration-time profile of these sulphonamides exhibited biphasic decline suggestive of 2-compartment open model kinetics. 3. The mean elimination half life of SAC and SNL, was 1.88 and 4.39 h respectively; however, it was 3.04 and 11.06 h respectively for goats with fast and slow SDM-disposition. 4. The respective apparent volume of distribution, Vd (area) of SAC and SNL was 0.87 and 0.48 l/kg; for SDM it was 0.33 and 0.29 l/kg for animals with fast and slow SDM disposition. 5. The approximate degree of in vitro and in vivo binding of SAC (12-16%) and SNL (22- 24%) to plasma protein was independent of drug concentration whereas that of SDM showed inverse relationship with drug concentration (40 and 60% binding with 300 and 10 'g/ml).

1. Noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) phenylephrine (PHE), methoxamine (ME), dopamine (DA) and carbachol produced dose dependent contraction of rat vas-deferens and rat anococcygeus muscle. 2. In presence of D-600 (41 uM) or in calcium free PSS, the responses to NA, 5-HT and carbachol were not affected significantly, whereas the responses to PHE, ME and DA were significantly decreased as compared to the control in rat anococcygeus muscle. 3. However, in rat vas-deferens, all these agonists failed to produce any response in the preparation bathed in Ca++ free PSS or PSS containing D-600. 4. Indanidine (Sgd 101/75) produced dose dependent contraction of rat anococcygeus and rat vasdeferens. The contractile responses to indanidine in rat anococcygeus muscle were comparable to that of NA (about 75%), however, in rat vas-deferens it was of smaller magnitude (17% of NA max). 5. In rat anococcygeus and in rat vas-deferens the responses to indanidine were abolished in the presence of D-600 or Ca++ free PSS. 6. In zero sodium the responses to NA, PHE, 5-HT, DA, ME and carbachol were not affected significantly in either rat anococcygeus or vas-deferens. However the responses to indanidine were significantly inhibited in rat anococcygeus. While in rat vas-deferens, indanidine failed to produce any contraction in zero sodium. 7. It is concluded that there may be different post receptor regulatory mechanisms controlling calcium movements responsible for the contraction of rat anococcygeus and rat vas-deferens.

1. Isoprenaline sulphate (85 mg/kg S.C./rat on two consecutive days) significantly increased the total leucocyte count (p

I. Carbon Tetrachloride was administered to induce hepatotoxocity in male rabbits. Serum enzymes ACT and AST were monitored. In one group of Carbon Tetrachloride treated rabbits, Liv. 52 was administered orally by Ryle's tube. Observations were made for five days. Liv. 52 produced marked reduction in ALT levels whereas the effect of Liv. 52 on AST levels were less marked. Reasons for this differential effect of Liv. 52 on ALT and AST levels are discussed.

1. In an experimental study healthy guinea pigs were exposed for 1 minute to 0.5 and 1 per cent mist of rifampicin aerosol.Serum rifampicin levels>5 'gm/ml were achieved within two hours of exposure to 1 percent aerosol. Interstitial congestion and infiltration with inflammatory cells was observed in 2 out of 120 animals.

1. Histamine induced wheal suppression technique of Reddy and Singh (1976) has been modified by calculating volume of the wheal. 2. Height of the wheal was measured with the help of a spherometer to calculate its volume by the relation (r2h. 3. Potency of two topical corticosteroid preparations (halcinonide 0.1% and hydrocortisone l .0%) was assessed on ten healthy volunteers in a double blind study. 4. The effect of tachyphylaxis was observed with both the steroids within a week, still earlier with potent steroid.A four days rest was enough to bring back the skin to its pretreatment level.