12.動揺病モデル動物:スンクス(ジャコウネズミ)
2001 年 60 巻 1 号 p. 3-6
詳細
2001 年 60 巻 1 号 p. 3-6
Suncus murinus belongs to insectivora and has been developed as a laboratory animal in Japan. It is relatively small in size (male: 50-70g, female: 30-50g), and there are no problems in the handling, housing and breeding of the animal. We have found that administration of emetogenic drugs, X-ray irradiation and oscillation easily causes emesis in this animal. Since simple reciprocal shaking (frequency: 1 Hz, amplitude: 4cm) is enough to induce vomiting within as short as 2 min, Suncus murinus is currently the most sensitive animal to motion sickness. Information conserning the purchase and special animal chow is available at the Central Institute for Experimental Animals.
Our knowledge of emesis and motion sickness is still very poor. The presence of a "vomiting center" and a "CTZ: chemoreceptor trigger zone" were proposed about a half century ago but substantiating evidence is still lacking. Antiemetic dugs have been developed to reduce the number of vomiting episodes; however, in terms of quality of life, complete blockade of nausea rather than vomiting is desirable. We believe that Suncus murinus will be a useful experimental animal for research on emesis and the development of new antiemetic drugs.
