The immediate and long-term effects of applying capsaicin to cutaneous nerves.
Capsaicin has now been shown to have a neurotoxic action on C-fibres in adult rodents and several other mammalian species. In the adult the effect is preferentially on nociceptive C-fibres. The hypoalgesia and loss of neurogenic inflammation that follow capsaicin treatment are likely to be a direct consequence of the C-fibre loss. In addition to its long-term toxic action, capsaicin also has an immediate effect on conduction in nociceptive C-fibres. This action probably produces the short-term hypoalgesia and loss of antidromic plasma extravasation that follow application of capsaicin to peripheral nerves.
Lynn
B
B
Department of Physiology, University College London, England.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000633:toxicity*; D005289:Ferrets; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*
D002211:Capsaicin