title: Role of capsaicin sensory nerves and EGF in the healing of gastric ulcer in rats.
abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that capsaicin sensitive afferent fibers play a pivotal role not only in gastroprotection but also in ulcer healing. Denervation of capsaicin sensitive afferent fibers exerts an adverse action on these effects. However, whether such an action is mediated through a depression on epidermal growth factor (EGF) is undefined. In this study, the effects of denervation of sensory neurons with capsaicin (100 mg/kg, s.c.) on acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers and their relationship with the EGF expression in salivary glands, serum and gastric mucosa were investigated. Capsaicin significantly increased ulcer size, decreased gastric mucosal cell proliferation at the ulcer margin, angiogenesis in the granulation tissue and also gastric mucus content. Ulcer induction by itself dramatically elevated EGF levels in salivary glands and serum on day 1 and 4, and also in the gastric mucosa on day 4. However, capsaicin completely abolished these effects. It is concluded that stimulation of EGF expression in salivary glands and serum may be one of the mechanisms by which capsaicin sensitive nerves contribute to the gastroprotective and ulcer healing actions in the stomach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D002211:Capsaicin