1 Type 4 phosphodiesterase (PDE4) inhibitors mimic the pharmacological actions of alpha 2 -adrenoceptor antagonists. This has been postulated as the mechanism by which PDE4 inhibitors induce emesis and was also demonstrated by their ability to reverse xylazine/ketamine-induced anaesthesia. We further characterized this latter eect since it appears to re¯ect the emetic potential of PDE4 inhibitors. 2 Selective inhibitors of PDE 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were studied in rats, on the duration of anaesthesia induced by the combination of xylazine (10 mg ]-substance P (NK 1 receptor agonist, 6 mg i.c.v.) reduced the duration of anaesthesia induced by xylazine/ketamine. 5 In summary, this model is functionally coupled to PDE4, speci®c to alpha 2 -adrenoceptors and relevant to PDE4 inhibitor-induced emesis. It therefore provides a novel way of evaluating the emetic potential of PDE4 inhibitors in rats.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.