title: Loss of capsaicin-induced meningeal neurogenic sensory vasodilatation in diabetic rats.
abstract: Neuropathic alterations of sensory nerves involved in the mediation of neurogenic inflammation of the meninges may contribute to the increased incidence of headaches in diabetics. In the rat, activation of capsaicin-sensitive nociceptors, which express the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor, induces meningeal vasodilatation, a significant component of neurogenic inflammation, through the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This study examines the effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on TRPV1 receptor-mediated neurogenic sensory vasodilatation, CGRP release and nerve fiber density in the rat dura mater. In a cranial window preparation, epidural application of capsaicin (10(-7) M) produced distinct vasodilatory responses in control animals as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. In diabetic rats, capsaicin-induced vasodilatation was reduced or even abolished 6, but not 2 or 4 weeks after diabetes induction. In contrast, vasoconstriction, a non-neurogenic response to capsaicin at a higher concentration (10(-5) M), was not altered in diabetic rats. The vasodilatory effects of histamine (10(-5) M), acetylcholine (10(-4) M) and CGRP (10(-5) M) were similar in control, diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic animals. In diabetic rats, a significant decrease in the capsaicin-evoked release of CGRP and reduction in the density of TRPV1-immunoreactive (IR) nerves were demonstrated. Treatment of the diabetic rats with insulin restored both the vasodilatory response and the capsaicin-induced CGRP release toward control values. In conclusion, this study revealed a marked impairment of meningeal TRPV1-IR nerves in streptozotocin diabetic rats by showing reduced neurogenic sensory vasodilatation, decreased capsaicin-evoked CGRP release and reduction in the number of TRPV1-IR nerve fibers of the dura mater. The findings suggest that capsaicin-sensitive afferents may play an important role in meningeal nociceptor function and their dysfunction, e.g. due to a limited removal of inflammatory mediators and/or tissue metabolites from the meningeal tissue, may contribute to the enhanced incidence of headaches in diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary. dux@phys.szote.u-szeged.hu <dux@phys.szote.u-szeged.hu>
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dux
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pintér
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sántha
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jancsó
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C493922:Trpv1 protein, rat; D006632:Histamine; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002211:Capsaicin