DFP induced changes in acetylcholinesterase activity and glycogen level in certain brain regions of mice.

DFP in acute dose (2 mg/kg i. p.) in mice significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase AChE) activity in five regions of brain i.e. cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, medulla, cerebellum and hypothalamus. The inhibition was accompanied by depletion of glycogen from these regions 1 hr after DFP administration. The inhibition of enzyme activity was more in corpus striatum and medulla and glycogen depletion was more in cerebral cortex in comparison to other regions of the brain. These changes may be due to stimulatory effect of DFP on these regions of brain in mice.

Immunopharmacological studies on Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. Part VI: Effect on anaphylactic activation events in rat peritoneal mast cells.

Mechanism of inhibition of mast cell anaphylaxis by P. kurroa-extract (PK) treatment in rats was investigated. Mast cell-IgE binding, assessed from induction of passive sensitization, was not affected. Calcium-independent early activation events in mast cell anaphylaxis indicated on inhibitory influence of PK-treatment. Inhibition of membrane-protease release by PK-treatment was suggested by study of gastric secretion and exhibition of saturable synergism with Di-isopropyl fluoro phosphate on inhibition of anaphylactic degranulation. pH-independence of mast cell stabilizing effect negates any PK-influence on phospholipid transmethylation. The results complement findings of earlier studies on indirect effects of PK through alteration of membrane structure/function.