Value of Mink Vomit Model in Study of Anti-emetic Drugs

Aim: To establish a new, reliable vomit model of minks.

Methods: Adult male minks were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=6): cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) group, copper sulfate (40 mg/kg) intragastric injection (i.g.) group, apomorphine (1.6 mg/kg) subcutaneous injection (s.c.) group, and 18 Gy whole-body X-irradiation group, ondansetron injection group (2 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min later followed by cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) i.p., normal saline (NS) i.p. injection control group, metoclopramide injection group (4 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min later followed by apomorphine (1.6 mg/kg) s.c., NS i.g. control group. The frequency of retching and vomiting was calculated. After behavioral experiment, distribution of 5-HT in the ileum was detected by immunohistologic method.

Results: Cisplatin, apomorphine, copper sulfate and X-irradiation administered to minks evoked a profound emetic response in the animals. However, retching and vomiting were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with ondansetron and metoclopramide in cisplatin and copper sulfate groups (P=0.018). Immunohistologic result showed that 5-HT released from enterochromaffin cells (EC cells) was involved in vomiting mechanism.

Conclusion: Mink vomit model has a great value in studying the vomiting mechanism and screening new antiemetic drugs.