Guamanian Suncus murinus responsiveness to emetic stimuli and the antiemetic effects of 8-OH-DPAT.

The Japanese Suncus murinus, the house musk shrew, is a small insectivore commonly used in emetic research. The Guamanian S. murinus has not had extensive testing as an emetic model, but it is readily available for use in emetic experiments in the United States, unlike the Japanese Suncus. This study determined that Guamanian S. murinus is an acceptable model for emesis research and its differences from the Japanese strain were examined. Motion and nicotine were used as emetic stimuli and comparable doses of 8-OH-DPAT were used to compare emetic susceptibility to the Japanese strain. The Guamanian strain had decreased susceptibility to motion and increased susceptibility to nicotine as compared to the Japanese, as well as increased sensitivity to 8-OH-DPAT, with lower doses of the recovery drug eliminating retching episodes. The study also determined that Guamanian S. murinus are smaller and more aggressive than the Japanese strain, but just as effective as a model for emetic research.