title: Mechanisms underlying the hypertensive response induced by capsaicin.
abstract: Acute ingestion of large quantity of chili peppers (rich source of capsaicin) produced hypertensive crisis in a patient. The hypertensive response was explained on the basis of decreased vasodilator substance calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from sensory nerve terminals by capsaicin. Here we present our experimental observations in anaesthetized rats regarding the mechanisms underlying hypertensive response induced by capsaicin. Our results demonstrate non-involvement of adrenergic and angiotensinergic mechanisms and also the cardiac changes in producing the response. Thus, the direct action of capsaicin on vascular smooth muscle or the activation of endothelin is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India.
authors.forename: Abhaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India. Electronic address: desh48@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shripad B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Deshpande
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000633:toxicity*; D002212:Capsicum / Q000009:adverse effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002211:Capsaicin