Emesis induced by cisplatin in the ferret as a model for the detection of anti-emetic drugs.

The intravenous injection of cisplatin in the ferret caused a consistent emetic (vomiting/retching) response. Emesis induced by cisplatin was abolished by the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) M-receptor antagonists ICS205-930, zacopride, dazopride and metoclopramide. The neuroleptic agents haloperidol, fluphenazine, domperidone, sulpiride and tiapride also antagonized emesis induced by cisplatin but only a proportion of the animals were completely protected and diazepam and prednisolone only reduced the intensity of the response. It is concluded that compounds used in the clinic to antagonise emesis induced by chemotherapy are effective in the ferret model. Antagonism of emesis induced by cisplatin in the ferret was most potently achieved by the use of the 5-HT M-receptor antagonists ICS205-930 and zacopride. However, an antagonism of dopamine receptors would appear relevant to the anti-emetic effects of the neuroleptic agents and may contribute to the anti-emetic effects of metoclopramide. Diazepam and prednisolone exert their modest antagonism by unknown mechanisms. The use of the 5-HT M-receptor antagonists is revealed as a novel approach to the treatment of emesis induced by cisplatin.