SITE OF EMETIC ACTION OF TETRODOTOXIN IN DOG

¹ Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Food Microbiology, Chiba University, Narashino, Chiba, Japan

The emetic action of purified globe fish poison (crystalline tetrodotoxin) was studied in dogs. The minimum uniformly effective doses were found to be 0.7 µg/kg by subcutaneous and intramuscular routes, 0.3 µg/kg intravenously, and 70 µg/kg per os, whereas the lethal subcutaneous dose was 10 µg/kg. Chemoreceptor trigger zone-ablated dogs failed to vomit in response to the toxin. Chlorpromazine and hexamethonium were ineffective in preventing the emetic response to tetrodotoxin while tetraethylammonium was effective in this respect. A nicotine-like action in the vomiting mechanism of tetrodotoxin is suggested.

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