ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the possible mechanism of dichroa alkali salt (DAS) in inducing vomiting. Method: Mice pica model was used to observe the antagonistic effect of the three different kinds of antiemetic drugs[dopamine receptor antagonist metoclopramide, 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist ondansetron and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist aprepitant] on body mass, food intake, kaolin consumption, diarrhea and death induced by DAS to preliminarily clarify the possible pathogenic pathway of DAS. Then, the expression of 5-HT and substance P(SP) in ileum and medulla of mice induced by DAS alone at different time points was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to confirm whether DAS could affect the changes of these two neurotransmitters. Result: After treatment with ondansetron and aprepitant, DAS-induced reduction in food intake of mice was significantly improved on the 4th day after continuous administration and on the 1st day after drug administration (Prd day after administration, DAS-induced body mass loss of mice was significantly improved (PConclusion: The mice pica model can be used to effectively characterize DAS-induced vomiting. DAS-induced pica in mice may be associated with the increase of 5-HT and SP in ileum and medulla. Ondansetron and aprepitant can effectively antagonize DAS-induced pica in mice.