TY - JOUR T1 - Probable Involvement of the 5-Hydroxytryptamine<sub>4</sub>Receptor in Methotrexate-Induced Delayed Emesis in Dogs JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 1002 LP - 1007 VL - 292 IS - 3 AU - Hisashi Yamakuni AU - Hiroe Sawai AU - Yasue Maeda AU - Katsunori Imazumi AU - Hiroyuki Sakuma AU - Masahiko Matsuo AU - Seitaro Mutoh AU - Jiro Seki Y1 - 2000/03/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/292/3/1002.abstract N2 - Delayed emesis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy remains a significant problem. The pathogenesis of delayed emesis is still obscure. It was recently demonstrated that methotrexate (MTX), an anticancer drug, evoked delayed emesis in dogs in a manner similar to its actions in humans. We evaluated the antiemetic activity of FK1052, a potent antagonist for both the 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)3and 5-HT4 receptors, on delayed emesis induced by MTX in beagle dogs. Animal behavior was recorded for 3 days using a video camera. Delayed emesis lasting up to 72 h was observed in dogs treated with MTX (2.5 mg/kg i.v.), but acute emesis did not occur. The following antiemetics, at the dose that prevents cisplatin-induced acute emesis in dogs, were administered i.v. as multiple injections every 12 h during days 2 to 3. FK1052 (1 and 3.2 mg/kg) significantly reduced the emetic episodes caused by MTX, whereas ondansetron (1 mg/kg), a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, was not effective. The emetic episodes induced by MTX were also inhibited by another 5-HT3/4 receptor antagonist, tropisetron (1 mg/kg). CP-122,721 (0.1 mg/kg), a potent selective tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist, significantly reduced the emetic responses to MTX. Copper sulfate-induced emesis in dogs was also prevented by FK1052, tropisetron, and CP-122,721 but not by ondansetron. FK1052, tropisetron, and ondansetron had negligible affinity for the NK1 receptor at 1 μM. These results suggest that the 5-HT4 receptor may be in part involved in the production of delayed emesis induced by MTX in dogs and that FK1052 may be a useful drug against both acute and delayed emesis induced by cancer chemotherapy. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics ER -