Assessment of emetic and antiemetic activity.

Compounds having acute emetic or antiemetic activities have been quantitatively evaluated and compared with the reference standards, apomorphine and chlorpromazine, respectively. The bioassay for an emetic required the establishment of mean threshold emetic doses in groups of dogs for both the reference standard apomorphine and the test compound. The bioassay for antiemetics was based upon the degree to which the test drug elevated the threshold emetic dose for apomorphine. That effect was contrasted with the change in emetic threshold produced by equimolar concentrations of chlorpromaine.