Prevention of physostigmine-induced lethality in rats. A pharmacological analysis.

A systematic study of a large number of compounds from various pharmacological classes was performed to better define their interaction with the cholinergic nervous system. An 'in vivo' test procedure called 'physostigmine antagonism' in rats was used; it involved the administration of the test compounds, measurement of the pupil diameter and recording of the survival time after injection of a lethal dose of physostigmine. Known peripherally acting anticholinergics, such as isopropamide and methylscopolamine did not protect from physostigmine lethality at doses up to more than 150 times the mydriatic dose.

Delay of castor oil diarrhoea in rats: a new way to evaluate inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Forty-four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds were tested for possible effects on castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. A small but significant delay of intestinal evacuations was found with all compounds. Quantitatively, the oral doses required to delay diarrhoea beyond the first hour after castor oil challenge reflected the acute anti-inflammatory potency of the tested compounds.

Oxatomide, a new orally active drug which inhibits both the release and the effects of allergic mediators.

Oxatomide is a new potent inhibitor of anaphylactic and allergic reactions. After oral administration, the compound both inhibits the release of endogenous histamine and prevents the effects of exogensous histamine, at comparable doses. The combination of these effects appears to be the basis of the effectiveness of oxatomide in allergic reactions and may lead to clinical application different from classical antihistaminics and from cromoglycate.

Interaction of drugs with apomorphine, tryptamine and norepinephrine. A new 'in vivo' approach: the ATN-test in rats.

A new experimental test procedure is described for the 'in vivo' study of drug interactions with dopamine (DA), 5 hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). The ultimate aim of this study is to provide an empirical evaluation of the relative specificity with which drugs may affect particular neurotransmitter systems, and to allow a classification of new drugs in this respect. The data indicate that, within certain dosage limits, compounds may modulate specifically a single component of the test procedure and may thus be considered as interacting specifically to modify one neurotransmitter system: i.

A new apparatus for measuring diameter changes of the rat paw and tibiotarsal joint.

A new apparatus for the study of hind-limb inflammation in the rat is described. It measures with high precision the diameters of the hind paws and tibiotarsal joints at anatomically well defined reference points. Inflammation induced by subplantar carrageenin injection and by inoculation of adjuvant in the tail is accompanied by readily detectable and pronounced increases in diameters.

Gastrointestinal effects and acute toxicity of suprofen.

The acute effects of orally administered, high doses of alpha-methyl-4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)benzeneacetic acid (suprofen) were studied in various tests, related to gastrointestinal functions. A decrease of the diarrheal stools in the castor oil test in rats was the first effect noted; the ED50 in this test was 40 mg/kg. This dose is 540 times higher than the ED50 of suprofen in the acetic acid-induced writhing test in rats (ED50 = 0.

The effects of suprofen in rats with Mycobacterium butyricum-induced arthritis.

The activity of alpha-methyl-4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)benzeneacetic acid (suprofen) was studied in rats with established Mycobacterium butyricum-induced arthritis. The arthritic response was evaluated by measuring the diameter changes of the hind paws and tibiotarsal joints, using a new apparatus. Treatment once daily by gavage during 14 days revealed activity at the dose of 1.

The antipyretic effect of suprofen in rats with yeast-induced fever.

The antipyretic activity of alpha-methyl--4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)benzeneacetic acid (suprofen) was studied in rats with comparable hyperthermia after s.c. injection of brewer's yeast.

The activity of suprofen on nystatin-induced paw oedema in rats.

Subplantar injection of nystatin into the rat paw induces acute paw oedema of long duration. In this test the anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-methyl-4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)benzeneacetic acid (suprofen) has been studied using doses from 1.25 up to 160 mg/kg.

Clopimozide (R 29 764), a new highly potent and orally long-acting neuroleptic of the diphenylbutylpiperidine series.

Clopimozide (R 29 764), 5-chloro-1-(4-[4,4-bis(p-fluorophenyl)butyl]-4-piperidyl)-2-benzimidazolinone, is a new member of the potent and long-acting series of diphenylbutylpiperidine neuroleptics of which pimozide is the prototype, In animals the pharmacological profile of R 29 764 resembles that of typical neuroleptic compounds. R29 764 is very potent by oral route and has an extremely long duration of action. The onset of action of clopimozide is relatively fast, it is already very potent after 4 h and, in the procedures described, reaches its peak effect 24 h after administration.

A critical study on RO-4-1284 antagonism in mice.

Ro-4-1284 is found to produce ptosis, hypothermia, sedation and miosis in mice, and the antagonsim to these symptoms is investigated. The study reports the differential effects of various pharmacologically distinct classes of compounds. The relevance of this type of experiments to possible antidepressant drug activity is discussed.