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Induction of Emesis by the Sodium Channel Activator Veratrine in the Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Scyliorhinus Canicula (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

P.L.R. Andrews
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 ORE.
D.W. Sims
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Group, Plymouth Environmental Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA.
J.Z. Young
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UD.

Extract

This study provides the first quantitative description of the emetic reflex (vomiting) in the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) by using veratrine HC1 (lOmgkg−1, i.p.), the sodium channel activator as a stimulus. Vomiting occurred within 10 min of injection. The most notable features of the response in the correct temporal sequence were: (i) head shaking with wide gaping of the mouth; (ii) lowering of the ventral buccal cavity and expansion of the pharyngeal cavity; (iii) contraction of the gill arches, the buccopharyngeal musculature and lowering of the jaw rapidly followed by the expulsion of gastric contents (pieces of fish). The expulsion sequence (ii and iii) took ~ 1 s. The significance of the vomiting reflex in the dogfish is discussed in terms of its protective function and as a component of normal feeding to periodically eject indigestible food residues.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1998

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