Distribution of capsaicin-sensitive nerve fibres containing immunoreactive substance P in cutaneous and visceral tissues of the rat.
Treatment of newborn rats with capsaicin causes a selective and permanent degeneration of unmyelinated sensory fibres, some of which contain immunoreactive substance P (ISP). Following treatment of newborn rats with capsaicin (50 mg/kg), the ISP content was decreased by 66-75% in various skin areas and in the oral and nasal mucosae as measured at the age of 3-4 months. There was no significant depletion of ISP in the mucosa of the tongue. The ISP content of trachea, lungs, myocardium, hepatic duct, ureter and urinary bladder, was decreased by 60-84%. The ISP concentrations in stellate and mesenteric ganglia were reduced by 54 and 81%, respectively. These results indicate a widespread innervation of cutaneous and visceral tissues by sensory nerve fibers containing ISP.
D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common / Q000294:innervation; D008168:Lung / Q000294:innervation; D008643:Mesentery / Q000294:innervation*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000294:innervation; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D014132:Trachea / Q000294:innervation; D014513:Ureter / Q000294:innervation; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D013373:Substance P; D002211:Capsaicin