Objective: To determine whether fluoxetine (FLU) induces penile erection (PE) in rats either indirectly via its 5-HT neuronal reuptake inhibiting activity or directly by stimulating the 5-HT 2c receptors in the brain. Method: The effect of pre-treatment with para-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) on fluoxetine and d-fenfluramine (d-FEN) induced PEs (Penile erections) was studied in albino rats. Results: FLU (10mg/kg) and d-FEN (2.5mg/kg) treated groups exhibited a significant increase in number of PEs as compared to their respective control (DW treated) groups. Pre-treatment with PCPA (100mg/kg/day) had no significant effect on the PEs induced by FLU (10mg/kg) but did significantly decrease the PEs induced by d-FEN (2.5 mg/kg). Conclusion: Our results indicate that pre-treatment with selective 5-HT depleter PCPA (100mg/kg/day) significantly decreased PEs induced by d-FEN (2.5mg/kg) but had no significant effect on the number of PEs induced by FLU (10 mg/kg). This indicates that the PE inducing effect of FLU is probably due to the stimulation of 5HT 2C receptors.

Background: Urticaria results from many different stimuli and numerous factors like immunologic, non-immunologic, genetic and modulating factors which are involved in its pathogenesis and ultimately converge on mast cells and basophils to release mediators and produce urticarial lesions. This study is aimed to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of Levocetirizine (newer generation H1 blocker), prednisolone (glucocorticoid) and their combination in the treatment of chronic urticaria.Methods: Group I (34 patients received tab Levocetirizine alone 5mg daily for 15 days). Group II (33 patients received tab Prednisolone alone 20mg /day for initial 3 days and later dose was gradually tapered by 5mg /day every 3 days to 5mg/day with total duration of 12 days). Group III (33 patients received the combination of Levocetirizine and Prednisolone).Results: The Group -I patients average eosinophil count before and after treatment was 4±1.4 and 2.4±0.8 respectively, with an average difference of 1.7±1.3. In Group - II patients average eosinophil count before and after treatment was 4.0±1.1 and 2.5±0.3 respectively, with an average difference of 1.5±1.1. In the Group - III patients the average eosinophil count before and after treatment was 4.3±1.0 and 2.1±1.0 with an average difference of 2.2±1.3. In G-I (n=34).Conclusions: Statistical analysis of the present study showed that the combination of Levocetirizine and prednisolone therapy was significantly (P<0.05) greater than prednisolone alone therapy and improvement with Levocetirizine alone (79%) was almost similar to combination therapy (85%).