Neurogenic vasodilation in the rat hairy skin measured using a laser Doppler flowmeter.
Intradermal stimulation of the saphenous nerve of anesthetized rats at C-fiber strength elicited stimulus-dependent vasodilator responses in saphenous-innervated hairy skin. A laser Doppler flowmeter (Periflux, Pf1d) was used to measure these neurovascular responses non-invasively. Capsaicin pretreatment significantly attenuated the vasodilator response. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of atropine or mepyramine significantly reduced the skin vascular responses. The responses of halothane-anesthetized rats were significantly attenuated when compared with rats anesthetized with pentobarbitone. Results of this study suggest the presence of endothelium-dependent vasodilator peptidergic, cholinergic and histaminergic contributions to electrically-evoked axon reflex vasodilation in the rat hairy skin.
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Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Westerman
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D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D007834:Lasers; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011738:Pyrilamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D014664:Vasodilation
D001285:Atropine; D011738:Pyrilamine; D010424:Pentobarbital; D002211:Capsaicin; D006221:Halothane