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Capsaicin-induced reflex fall in rat blood pressure is mediated by afferent substance P-containing neurones via a reflex centre in the brain stem

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Injection of 0.03 μg capsaicin into one femoral artery elecited a fall in blood pressure in the rat. This effect was completely and reversibly abolished following intrathecal injection of 1 nmol of the specific substance P antagonist [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9] substance P. The capsaicin-evoked depressor reflex is therefore exclusively mediated by substance P-containing primary afferent fibres.

  2. 2.

    Using spinal rats or decerebration experiments, the centre of the capsaicin-evoked reflex fall in blood pressure could be localized in the brain stem.

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Donnerer, J., Lembeck, F. Capsaicin-induced reflex fall in rat blood pressure is mediated by afferent substance P-containing neurones via a reflex centre in the brain stem. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 324, 293–295 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00502626

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00502626

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