John A. Rudd (1), Celine H.K. Cheng (2) and Robert J. Naylor (2)
(1) Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University
of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
(2) Postgraduate Studies in Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, University
of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, U.K.
Abstract: para-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA,100 - 200 mg/kg) was
used as a pharmacological tool to characterize the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)
involvement in the emesis occurring 24 hr after the administration of cisplatin
(10 mg/kg) in the ferret. PCPA was effective to antagonize the initial 8
hr period of retching and vomiting, but potentiated the emesis that occurred
during the remaining 8- to 24-hr observation period. Tissue samples removed
from the brainstem at 24 hr post injection of cisplatin alone revealed an
elevation of 5-HT, dopamine and homovanillic acid that was antagonized by
the injection of PCPA. Cisplatin also induced increases in the urinary levels
of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid that was similarly antagonized by PCPA. Results
are discussed in terms of the relevance of 5-HT to the model of cisplatin
(10 mg/kg)-induced emesis in the ferret compared to the problem of acute
and delayed emesis in man. The residual or delayed phase of cisplatin-induced
emesis may involve a 5-HT-independent mechanism.
Keywords: Cisplatin, Emesis, p-Chlorophenylalanine, Ferret, Delayed