The development of the emetic reflex in the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus

Abstract

The emetic (retching and vomiting) reflex is an important component of the body’s defence system against accidentally ingested toxins and emesis is also a common symptom of disease and a side-effect of a number of pharmacological therapies. The development of the reflex has been the subject of few systematic studies. The aim of this study was to characterise the development of the emetic reflex in Suncus murinus (the house musk shrew) using emetic stimuli acting via three different afferent pathways: motion via the vestibular system, pyrogallol via abdominal vagal afferents and resiniferatoxin (a capsaicin analog) via the brainstem. The emetic reflex was not present to any stimulus prior to postnatal day 10 but the onset of the response to motion lagged behind that to the other stimuli in not being present until postnatal day 15. Body weight was not a determinant of the presence of the reflex. It is proposed that the delayed presence of the emetic reflex in Suncus makes it an ideal species in which to investigate factors regulating its development.