title: An antinociceptive effect of capsaicin in the adult mouse mediated by the NH2-terminus of substance P.
abstract: Capsaicin in the adult animal is believed to evoke a massive release of substance P (SP) and a subsequent loss of primary afferent C-fiber activity. Given the antinociceptive effect of SP N-terminal metabolites, the present experiments were designed to compare behavioral and nociceptive responses after treatments with capsaicin or the SP NH2-terminal fragment, SP(1-7), and to determine whether they share a common mechanism of action. When adult mice were tested using the hot-plate assay, 24 hr after intrathecal injections of either capsaicin (0.3-2.6 nmol) or SP(1-7) (22.5 pmol-10 nmol), a dose-related antinociception was observed. The caudally directed biting and scratching behaviors induced by 1 nmol of capsaicin injected intrathecally were also greatly reduced 24 hr after either 2.6 nmol of capsaicin or 10 nmol of SP(1-7). Pretreatment with an antagonist of the NH2-terminus of SP, [D-Pro2,D-Phe7]-SP(1-7), prevented the long-term effects of capsaicin and of SP(1-7) on capsaicin-induced behaviors in our paradigm at doses that the COOH-terminal antagonist of neurokinin activity, [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]-SP, did not. The antinociceptive effect of capsaicin in the adult animal is, therefore, mimicked by SP(1-7) and attenuated by [D-Pro2,D-Phe7]-SP(1-7), suggesting that the NH2-terminus of SP and its NH2-terminal metabolites, released in response to capsaicin, may contribute to the mediation of capsaicin's antinociceptive effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary PathoBiology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mousseau
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013373:Substance P; C036877:substance P (1-7); C032132:substance P, prolyl(2)-tryptophan(7,9)-; D002211:Capsaicin