. Tetramisole elicited marked contraction of Ascaridia galli, potentiated the contractile action of acetylcholine and at a higher concentration produced persistent contraction of the worm leading to its paralysis. The contractile response to tetramisole was blocked by atropine but not by promethazine, which indicates that histamine receptors are not involved. Barium chloride had no effect upon the parasite. These suggest an acetylcholine type depolarizing effect of tetramisole cm Ascarodoa galli,

. The adrenergic neurone blocking and sympathomimetic effects of debrisoquin (DBQ) were studied on anococcygeus and vas deferens preparation of rat to find out correlation between the two effects and the mechanism of action of the latter. DBQ (5.71 x IO-9 M) caused a reversible neurone blocking effect as well as potentiated responses to noradrenaline (NA) on anococcygeus muscle. Higher concentrations of DBQ(1.17 x10-6 M) caused similar effects on vas deferens. Reserpinization abolished contractile responses due to DBQ a s well as its potent- iating effect of NA responses in anococcygeus muscle, while it failed to modify the potentiation of NA responses by DBQ in vas deferens. Phentolamine (1 x 10-7 M) completely antagonised the contractions due to DBQ on anococcygeus muscle of rat. Nialamide (3.35 x 10-5 M) completely antagonised the potentiating effect of DBQ on NA responses in anococcygeus muscle, while antagonism of pontentiating effect of DBQ by nialamide in vas deferens was partial but significant. There is a significant correlation between the neuronal blocking and sympathomimetic effects of DBQ. The mechanism of the sympathomimetic effect of DBQ is probably different in the two preparations.

. Angiotensin II administered i.c.v. resulted in a significant increase in blood cholesterol level in dogs. The hypercholesterolemic effect of angiotensin was not observed in bilaterally vagotomized or in hepatectomized dogs. It is suggested that centrally administered angiotensin exerts its effect on liver through vague. It is possible that i.c.v. administration of angiotensin inhibits the vagal centre in the CNS which brings about an increase in blood cholesterol level.

In order to determine the selectivity of alprenolol and N-isopropylmethoxamine (IMA) as specific beta adrenergic receptor blocking agents on the cardiac pacemaker, their effects against two rate accelerating agents i.e. isoprenaline and histamine were studied on the isolated rabbit right atria. Isoprenaline acts through cardiac beta adrenergic receptors. Where as histamine effect is neither through these receptors nor through cardiac norepinephrine stores. Alprenolol selectively antagonized the rate accelerating effect of isoprenaline without having any significant effect against the rate accelerating effect of histamine; whereas IMA antagonized the rate accelerating effects of both isoprenaline and histamine. These results suggest that antagonism produced by alprenolol is related to its beta adrenergic receptor blocking action; while the antagonism produced by IMA is of nonspecific nature.

. The effect of single oral doses (30,45 and 60 mg/kg) of O-ethyl-S, S-diphenyl phosphorodithioate (Hinosan) on Mood glucose and lactic acid levels were studied in healthy male buffalo calves. A significant (P<0.01) increase in the blood glucose and lactic acid levels was observed with all the doses of Hinosan. The increase in both the parameters was found to be dose dependent and the peak effect was observed between 12 and 24 h. The elevated values of blood glucose and lactic acid of survivors returned to almost pretreatment levels within 48 h of Hinosan administration. A correlation of these biochemical alterations with adrenal medullary and cortical activities is discussed.

. Glucose and epinephrine significantly (P < 0.01) prolonged the duration of pentobarbital anaegthasia by 51.9% and 40.5% respectively. But when given together, the duration of anaesthesis was reduced by 7.8%. Tha we of glucose and epinephrine together can therefore be made without any danger of potentiation of barbiturate anaesthesia In spite of potentiation by glucose and epinephrine, the dose of pentobarbital cannot be reduced.

. Mebendazole administered orally upto a dose of 500 mg/kg was ineffective either in eradicating microfilariae from the peripheral circulation of rats infected with Setaria cervi or in affecting the implanted adult worms. The lack of effect of mebendazole is likely due to its low absorption from the alimentary tract. Mebendazole was also ineffective in reducing the survival time of microfilariae in vitro. Mebendazole in low doses produced stimulation of the movements of adult worm and nerve-muscle complex which was not blocked by prior addition of d-tubocurarine. This suggests that acetyl-choline is not involved in bringing about the stimulant effect. At higher concentrations, the drug caused complete irreversible paralysis of the whole worm as well as the nerve-muscle complex of S. cervi. The dose required to produce an equivalent effect in the nerve-muscle complex was 1/10th of that required for the whole worm suggesting the existence of a cuticular barrier.

. Administration of phenformin 10-20 mg/kg, chlorpropamide 20 mg/kg and their combination 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg respectively p.o. daily to normal dogs for 12 weeks were studied for the. effect on resting blood lactic acid level. Phenformine 10 mg/kg daily either alone or in combination with chlorpropamide does not increase the blood lactate level. Administration of a high dose (50 mg/kg) of phenformin in a slow i.v. drip for 4 consecutive days to normal healthy dogs does not induce hyperlactacidaemia.

. Ascorbic acid uptake of homogenised long bone of rats was estimated after 21/2h incubation in Ringer phosphate bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 0,1,25,50,100,200 ng/ml cyproheptadine. In a similar experiment, ascorbic acid uptake was estimated in the presence of 25 ng/ml serotonin and a combination of 25 ng/ml each of serotonin and eyproheptadine. Cyproheptadine 25, 50 and 100 ng/ml significantly increased ascorbic acid uptake. while with 200 ng/ml the uptake was significantly reduced. Although serotonin per se did not affect the uptake of ascorbic acid, it inhibited cyproheptadine induced increase in ascorbic acid uptake.