Plr. Andrews et al., Induction of emesis by the sodium channel activator veratrine in the lesser spotted dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula (Chondrichthyes : Elasmobranchii), J MARINE BI, 78(4), 1998, pp. 1269-1279
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
This study provides the first quantitative description of the emetic reflex
(vomiting) in the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) by using veratrine HCl (
10 mg kg(-1), i.p.), the sodium channel activator as a stimulus. Vomiting o
ccurred within 10 min of injection. The most notable features of the respon
se 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 buccophary
ngeal musculature and lowering of the jaw rapidly followed by the expulsion
of gastric contents (pieces of fish). The expulsion sequence (ii and iii)
took similar to 1 s. The significance of the vomiting reflex in the dogfish
is discussed in terms of its protective function and as a component of nor
mal feeding to periodically eject indigestible food residues.