Abstract
Sensitivities of the stomach and duodenum to oral copper sulfate emesis were compared in dogs. 1) Dogs equipped with a stainless steel cannula in the middle of the duodenum were challenged to the oral threshold emetic dose of copper sulfate administered by a gastric tube. When the cannulas were opened, the oral thresholds were not effective to elicit vomiting in the most cases (1/13). Fairly rapid and high rate recoveries of copper through the open cannula were noted. With the closed cannulas, the thresholds were highly effective (16/16). 2) In the dogs with a cannula at the upper part of the jejunum, the oral threshold doses were always effective whether the canula was opened (9/9) or closed (11/11). Recovery rates of copper from the cannula were usually poor. 3) The oral thresholds administered into the proximal end or the middle of the duodenum through a PVC tubing were equally effective. 4) Although copper sulfate might irritate the stomach and upper duodenum to evoke vomiting, these results suggested a higher sensitivity of the lower duodenum.
