Dekanski's method was used to estimate the pressor activity of the extracts of the posterior pituitary lobe in anaesthetized rats, after the infusion of 0.9% NaCl solution above the supraoptic nuclei and haemorrhage in the amount of 1.5% of body weight or after the infusion of Substance P solution above the supraoptic nuclei and haemorrhage. It has been found that the vasopressin content in the posterior pituitary lobe decreased about 20% after the infusion of 0.9% NaCl solution and haemorrhage. The infusion of Substance P above the supraoptic nuclei inhibits the loss of vasopressin from the pituitary caused by haemorrhage.

The importance of the nerve supply to the uterus for the functional activity of this organ is coming under increasing scrutiny (see Anderson, Bowerman & Melampy, 1963). In the present work the effect of interruption of nerves supplying the uterus upon implantation and the occurrence of pregnancy in the guinea-pig has been studied and the effects of section of the hypogastric and pelvic nerves compared. Interruption of the nerve supply to the uterus was brought about by section of the hypogastric and/or pelvic nerves. The nerves were approached through a mid-ventral abdominal incision under pentobarbitone anaesthesia (supplemented when necessary with ether). With the aid of a dissecting microscope, about 1 cm. of each hypogastric nerve was removed medial to the ureters and just anterior to the aortic bifurcation; the pelvic nerves were exposed on both sides in the sacral region, lateral to the vagina and rectum, and sectioned as they

In the dogs, with a chronic polyethylene cannula in the lateral ventricle, adrenaline and noradrenaline were introduced into the cerebral ventricles a month after cannula implantation. Injection of 30–50 μg of adrenaline caused salivation and vomiting. The defensive salivary and motor conditioned reflexes were not significantly modified. Adrenaline given intraventricularly by slow infusion at a constant rate of 6.25–12.5 μg/min produced cataleptic symptoms, when dosage rose to an average of 400 μg. Noradrenaline, similarly given at a constant rate of 12.5 μg/min, produced the same cataleptic symptoms only in higher doses.