THE
EMETIC ACTION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS
ENTEROTOXIN WAS TESTED ON YOUNG AND ADULT CATS UNDER VARIOUS EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS WITH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS: 1. No direct action on isolated intestinal strips was observed. 2.
Emesis resulted following intravenous, intracardial, and
intraperitoneal injections, but failed to appear subsequent to oral, subcutaneous, or intramuscular administration. 3.
Emesis occurred following (a) celiac
ganglionectomy, (b)
gastrectomy, (c)
spinal cord transection at T(2) or caudad, and (d) unilateral
vagotomy. 4. Mild retching movements and rarely
emesis resulted subsequent to
enterotoxin injection following (a) double
vagotomy, (b) abdominal evisceration, and (c)
spinal cord transection at C(7). 5.
Emesis never occurred following (a) destruction of the
vomiting center, (b) injection of
enterotoxin into the fourth ventricle over the
vomiting center, and (c) transection of the central nervous system between the anterior border of the pons and the posterior border of the hypothalamus. 6.
Morphine inhibited,
ergotoxine inhibited or delayed, while
atropine and
pentobarbital had little or no effect on
emesis due to
enterotoxin injection. These experiments indicate that the action of staphylococcus
enterotoxin on peripheral sensory structures is of greater importance in the initiation of
emesis than direct action of the
enterotoxin on the
vomiting center. The principal pathways of the afferent and efferent impulses are described.