Cisplatin-induced emesis in the cat: effect of granisetron and dexamethasone

The emetic action of cisplatin was investigated in the cat using a closed circuit video recording system. In initial investigations, cisplatin 3 and 5 mg/kg, i.v. induced emesis over a 2-day period following a latency of 17.6+/-9.6 and 15.6+/-7.8 h, respectively. The anti-emetic efficacy of granisetron and dexamethasone was investigated in the cisplatin 5 mg/kg, i.v.-induced emesis model. In these experiments, cisplatin induced 47.0+/-14.0 and 20.0+/-9.0 retches+vomits on days 1 and 2, respectively, following a latency of 2.4+/-0.4 h. Granisetron (1 mg/kg, i.m.) administered three times per day reduced significantly the retching+vomiting response induced by cisplatin on days 1 and 2 by 100.0% (P<0.05) and 75.0% (P<0.05), respectively; dexamethasone (0.01-1 mg/kg, i.m.) administered three times per day reduced significantly the retching+vomiting response by 68.8-100.0% (P<0.05) and 33.3-100.0% (P<0.05) on days 1 and 2, respectively. The emetic action of cisplatin 7.5 mg/kg, i.v. was also investigated. This dose of cisplatin-induced emesis following a latency of 1.2+/-0.2 h and comprised 119.0+/-20.8 retches+vomits over a 24-h period. Granisetron and dexamethasone antagonized the emesis occurring in the first 3-h period (P<0.05) but were less effective to antagonize the subsequent emetic response (P0.05). The pharmacological sensitivity of low dose cisplatin-induced emesis in the cat is variable but unique and not representative of the clinical situation.