Suppression of Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced Vomiting in the Cat by Nabilone, a Synthetic Cannabinoid

Abstract

Summary and conclusionNabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, has been shown to have a unique spectrum of antiemetic activity in the cat. Doses of nabilone (25-100 μg/kg) required to suppress emesis induced by apomorphine, deslanoside and the anticancer drugs BCNU, HN2 and cis-Pt produced behavioral disturbances concomitantly. Vomiting evoked by nicotine was not blocked by nabilone. It is suggested that the emetic suppressant action of nabilone is effected in the fbrebrain in association with its psychotropic influence to cause an inhibition of the vomiting control mechanism in the medulla oblongata through descending connections. We conclude that the results with nabilone in an appropriate animal model confirm the clinical finding that the cannabinoids provide therapeutic benefit against the severe vomiting of cancer chemotherapy.