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The effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) on gastric secretion and gastric cytoprotection was evaluated using five different models of gastric ulcers: acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers, pylorus ligation, ethanol-induced, indomethacin-induced and ischemia-reperfusion-induced gastric ulcers. Bezafibrate, a PPAR-alpha agonist was administered at two different doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneanally. Both doses of bezafibrate showed significant antiulcer effect in ethanol-induced, indomethacin-induced and pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcers. Bezafibrate increased healing of ulcer in acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer model. Both doses were also effective in preventing gastric lesions induced by ischemia-reperfusion. It was concluded that PPAR-alpha activation increases healing of gastric ulcers and also prevents development of gastric ulcers in rats.

The research work deals with the screening of ethanol and chloroform extracts of Pachyrrhizus erosus seeds for central nervous system (CNS) depressant activity. The Pachyrrhizus erosus seed is known to contain rotinoids, flavonoids and phenylfuranocoumarin derivatives as chemical components and is reported to have antifungal, antisecretory, insecticides, antibacterial and spasmolytic activity. Since seeds of Pachyrrhizus erosus is used as folk medicine in treatment of insomnia, we made an attempt to study its CNS depressant effect. The different activities studied were potentiation of pentobarbitone-induced sleep, test for locomotor activity, effect on muscle co-ordination, antiaggressive and antianxiety activities. The result of the study reflected that ethanol extract of the seeds (150 mg/kg, p.o) decreased locomotor activity, produced muscle relaxation and showed antianxiety and antiaggressive activity.

The present study adopts an ethoexperimental approach to examine the deportment subsequent to alteration in serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission following treatment with site-specific neuropharmacological probes. The impact of perturbation in (5-HT) neurotransmission on baseline behavior was analyzed employing three animal models of anxiety, i.e., hole-board, elevated plus maze, and bright/dark arena. Inbred male rats (Wistar strain, weighing between 150 and 200 g) were used in this study. The vivarium and the behavioral laboratory were specially designed to permit operation of reversed light-dark cycle and all experiments were performed during the dark period. Pharmacological tools selected to influence 5-HT levels include (1) a combination of tranylcypromine and tryptophan (TCP + TRYPT) (0.75 mg/kg + 40 mg/kg) which augments 5-HT biosynthesis; (2) p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA: 200 mg/kg), an inhibitor of 5-HT biosynthesis; and (3) 5-HT reuptake blockers, namely zimelidine (ZIM) (40 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (FLU) (10 mg/kg). Rats under the influence of PCPA exhibited anxiolytic response, whereas those under treatments to raise 5-HT levels, viz., TCP + TRYPT, ZIM and FLU, displayed anxiogenic-like reactions. Several other agents known to specifically interact with 5-HT receptor subtypes were also tested. 5-HT2 receptor stimulants, such as quipazine (5 mg/kg) and MK 212 (0.5 mg/kg), were found to be anxiogenic. Buspirone (2 mg/kg), a 5-HT1 agonist, surmounted normal behavioral inhibition. However, another 5-HT1 stimulant, 8-OH-DPAT (0.025 mg/kg), had anxiogenic action. Pretreatment with 5-HT3 antagonists [zacopride (2 mg/kg) and GR 38032F (0.1 mg/kg)] and putative 5-HT1 antagonist [propranolol (10 mg/kg)] resulted in borderline disinhibition of normal behavioral inhibition to novel environments. In contrast, cyproheptadine (0.5 mg/kg), a 5-HT2 antagonist, provoked anxiogenic-like behavior. Altogether, uniform results were obtained for each probe in all the three models, suggesting that the battery of anxiety tests chosen in this study is reliable and sensitive to detect unknown pharmacological responses. The results support the hypothesis that stimulation of serotonergic neurotransmission heightens normal anxiety, whereas its blockade releases normal behavioral inhibition. Furthermore, this work establishes the validity of using the three paradigms in evaluating the involvement of multiple neurotransmitter receptors in the control of behavior of rodents under natural circumstances and also detects any aberration following exposure to novelty and stress.

Three pharmacological tools namely zimelidine, danitracen and MK 212, were selected to examine the nature of involvement of serotonergic neurotransmission in catalepsy, an undesirable side effect following administration of neuroleptics in rats. Reserpine and haloperidol were chosen as cataleptogenic challenges. Zimelidine, a serotonin (5-HT) reuptake blocker, inhibited the manifestation of reserpine and haloperidol induced catalepsy. However, a dose dependent effect could not be demonstrated beyond 30 mumoles/kg. Danitracen, a 5-HT receptor blocker, prevented the occurrence of the symptoms that were observed following reserpine treatment but it could not elicit blockade of haloperidol response. MK 212, an S2 (5-HT2) receptor stimulant forestalled the occurrence of reserpine syndrome at lower doses but exhibited cataleptogenic effects at higher doses. Besides, MK 212 failed to influence catalepsy following administration of haloperidol. It appears that 5-HT exerts a homoeostatic control in the regulatory neuraxis in neuroleptic induced neurological side effects.

Urolithiasis, following implantation of Zn discs in urinary bladder (foreign body insertion technique), was examined in albino rats of either sex. Marked variation was observed between sex, regarding the formation of bladder stones. Ethylene glycol (1%) mixed in drinking water for 4 weeks, was unable to augment Zn disc-induced stone deposition. Chemical nature of stones was identified as of magnesium ammonium phosphate type. Neither urinary pH nor infection in the urinary bladder/tract affected chemical nature and quantity of stone formed. There was no significant influence of electrolytes or metabolic products on the uroliths. No correlation could be drawn between the quality and quantity of uroliths formed and the urinary electrolytes concentration. M. Pudica was not effective in either preventing stone deposition or dissolving preformed stones.

1. Neurobehavioral survey of inverse agonist FG 7142 was performed employing a novel anxiety paradigm namely FR-2 Two-Way crossover in a shuttle box. 2. FG syndrome was found to be similar to learned helplessness following shock treatment. Significant increase in mean latency to escape was observed from 0 to 25th trial. Effect of FG 7142 on the behavioral and neurological profile did not deviate significantly from controls. However, a general increase in arousal, darting and sideway movement (weaving) of the head were noted. 3. Drugs with specificity at benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor site were employed as pretreatments in order to study their influence on FG 7142 induced anxiety syndrome. Diazepam and ZK 91296, significantly blocked the inverse agonist response. Head weaving as well as darting movements were completely abolished although rats demonstrated arousal and vigilance. 4. A dose dependent inhibition of FG response was observed with RO 15-1788, a specific BDZ receptor blocker. ZK 93423 at low doses (1 mg/kg) failed to reverse the escape deficit induced by FG. Higher doses of ZK 93423 could not be tested as significant sedation and ataxia were noted. 5. It is suggested that a careful combination of a BDZ agonist and inverse agonist may be beneficial in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorders.

A study was made of the in vivo effects of equitoxic doses of AT-125 and 5-FU combination, being administered either simultaneously (% ILS 152) or with a 6-h pretreatment with AT-125 (% ILS 184). To examine the biochemical basis for the scheduled synergism, measurements were made of the concentration of PRPP, the specific activities of CPS II, cytidine, thymidine, uridine, deoxyuridine kinases, and fluorinated nucleotide formation in P388 tumors and the small intestine. Two hours after in vivo simultaneous treatment of mice bearing tumors the concentration of PRPP increased 9- and 6-fold above baseline in the tumor and the small intestine, respectively. In the AT-125 pretreatment arm the concentration of PRPP increased 18- and 7-fold above baseline in the tumor and the small intestine, respectively. CPS II activity was reduced to 28%-18% of control in the tumors in the simultaneous and pretreatment groups, respectively, whereas it remained unchanged in the small intestine. Specific activities of cytidine kinase (5.5 +/- 1), thymidine kinase (4.0 +/- 1.6), uridine kinase (35.6 +/- 6.5), and deoxyuridine kinase (2.4 +/- 1.1) nmol/mg protein/h remained unchanged with treatment. In concert with the increased intratumor concentration of PRPP, fluorinated nucleotide formation was proportionally increased in the treatment arms. These results indicate the importance of drug scheduling of the above two agents in treating P388 leukemia.