Emetic Action of Bacterial Endotoxin in the Cat. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Intravenously administered bacterial endotoxin (LPS) is an effective emetic for cats. The site of emetic action in this animal was studied by determining the emetic responsiveness to LPS following different denervation procedures. Intrathoracic vagotomy and vagotomy + abdominal sympathectomy had very little influence on subsequent response to LPS. High LPS challenge doses elicited only prodromal signs of vomiting in cats subjected to spinal cord transection at T3-T4. Complete tolerance to emetic action of LPS resulted from abdominal deafferentation produced by vagotomy + spinal cord sectioning. The changes in sensitivity of the cat to the emetic action of intravenously administered staphylococcal enterotoxin were comparable to that for LPS for the different types of denervation.