The development of the emetic reflex in the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus

The emetic (retching and vomiting) reflex is an important component of the body’s defence system against accidentally ingested toxins and emesis is also a common symptom of disease and a side-effect of a number of pharmacological therapies. The development of the reflex has been the subject of few s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain research. Developmental brain research 2000-05, Vol.121 (1), p.29-34
Main Authors: Andrews, Paul, Dovey, Emma, Hockaday, Joanne, Hoyle, Charles H.V, Woods, Anthony J, Matsuki, Norio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Animals
Body Weight
Brainstem
Diterpenes - pharmacology
Emetic reflex
Female
Male
Motion Sickness - physiopathology
Neurotoxins - pharmacology
Nucleus tractus solitarius
pyrogallol
Pyrogallol - pharmacology
Reflex - physiology
resiniferatoxin
Shrews
Solitary Nucleus - metabolism
Substance P - metabolism
Suncus murinus
Vagus
Vagus Nerve - physiology
Vestibule, Labyrinth - physiology
Vomiting
Vomiting - chemically induced
Vomiting - physiopathology
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Summary:The emetic (retching and vomiting) reflex is an important component of the body’s defence system against accidentally ingested toxins and emesis is also a common symptom of disease and a side-effect of a number of pharmacological therapies. The development of the reflex has been the subject of few systematic studies. The aim of this study was to characterise the development of the emetic reflex in Suncus murinus (the house musk shrew) using emetic stimuli acting via three different afferent pathways: motion via the vestibular system, pyrogallol via abdominal vagal afferents and resiniferatoxin (a capsaicin analog) via the brainstem. The emetic reflex was not present to any stimulus prior to postnatal day 10 but the onset of the response to motion lagged behind that to the other stimuli in not being present until postnatal day 15. Body weight was not a determinant of the presence of the reflex. It is proposed that the delayed presence of the emetic reflex in Suncus makes it an ideal species in which to investigate factors regulating its development.
ISSN:0165-3806
DOI:10.1016/S0165-3806(00)00022-5