Consequences of capsaicin treatment on pulmonary vagal reflexes and chemoreceptor activity in lambs

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 2000-11, Vol.89 (5), p.1709-1718
• Main Authors: Diaz, Veronique, Arsenault, Julie, Praud, Jean-Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Apnea - chemically induced; Apnea - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Capsaicin - pharmacology; Cardiorespiratory control. Arterial mecano- and chemoreceptor; Chemoreceptor Cells - drug effects; Chemoreceptor Cells - physiology; Drug therapy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hypoxia - chemically induced; Hypoxia - physiopathology; Lung - innervation; Lung - physiology; Mechanoreceptors - drug effects; Mechanoreceptors - physiology; Nerve Fibers - drug effects; Nerve Fibers - physiology; Reflex - drug effects; Reflex - physiology; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Mechanics - drug effects; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Respiratory system; Sheep; Vagus Nerve - drug effects; Vagus Nerve - physiology; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2000.89.5.1709

Pulmonary Research Unit, Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1H 5N4 The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that capsaicin treatment in lambs selectively inhibits bronchopulmonary C-fiber function but does not alter other vagal pulmonary receptor functions or peripheral and central chemoreceptor functions. Eleven lambs were randomized to receive a subcutaneous injection of either 25 mg/kg capsaicin (6 lambs) or solvent (5 lambs) under general anesthesia. Capsaicin-treated lambs did not demonstrate the classical ventilatory response consistently observed in response to capsaicin bolus intravenous injection in control lambs. Moreover, the ventilatory responses to stimulation of the rapidly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors (intratracheal water instillation) and slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors (Hering-Breuer inflation reflex) were similar in both groups of lambs. Finally, the ventilatory responses to various stimuli and depressants of carotid body activity and to central chemoreceptor stimulation (CO 2 rebreathing) were identical in control and capsaicin-treated lambs. We conclude that 25 mg/kg capsaicin treatment in lambs selectively inhibits bronchopulmonary C-fiber function without significantly affecting the other vagal pulmonary receptor functions or that of peripheral and central chemoreceptors. neonatal respiratory control; slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors; rapidly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors; carotid body; central chemoreceptors