title: The organization of capsaicin-sensitive visceral afferent systems.
abstract: It has become clear that a number of neuropeptides are found in sensory nerves, some of which have been identified in visceral afferents. The best studied peptide is substance P, which has been localized in a population of capsaicin-sensitive visceral afferents. It has been established that there are a varied proportion of substance P-containing afferents in different visceral structures. In general, the peripheral termination of these nerves is around blood vessels. The central terminations of visceral afferents are in laminae I and V in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Substance P has been localized in these laminae and appears to be capsaicin-sensitive and therefore of sensory origin. Recently, substance K, which is derived from the same gene as substance P, has been found in visceral structures. Calcitonin gene-related peptide has been found in certain viscera to be contained in capsaicin-sensitive nerves. The contribution that other peptides make to visceral afferent innervation is not known.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Medical School, England.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sharkey
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000294:innervation; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010388:Pelvis / Q000294:innervation; D013909:Thorax / Q000294:innervation; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D002211:Capsaicin