The emetic activity of centrally administered cisplatin in cats and its antagonism by zacopride.

Cisplatin administered by either the intravenous (i.v.) or intra-cerebroventricular (i.c.v.) route produced emesis in cats. The average time to onset of emesis was decreased significantly (4.0 min versus 100.6 min) when cisplatin was administered i.c.v. Zacopride administered either i.c.v. (0.02 mg) or i.v. (0.1 mg kg-1) completely blocked the emesis due to cisplatin given by either route. Their data show that cisplatin possesses a central emetic component and that this is blocked by zacopride.