ROLE OF CAPSAICIN-SENSITIVE SENSORY NERVES IN MEDIATION OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF CROTON ZEHNTNERI LEAVES IN ANAESTHETIZED RATS
Authors: Siqueira, RJB; Leal-Cardoso, JH; Couture, R; Lahlou, S
Source: Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, Volume 33, Number 3, March 2006 , pp. 238-247(10)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
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- In this Subject: Pharmacology
- By this author: Siqueira, RJB ; Leal-Cardoso, JH ; Couture, R ; Lahlou, S
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Abstract:
SUMMARY • The essential oil of Croton zehntneri Pax et Hoffm. (EOCZ) contains anethole (42%) and estragole (46%), two isomers that share some chemical structural similarities with capsaicin. The present study investigated the cardiovascular effects of EOCZ and the role of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerve fibres in the mediation of these effects in anaesthetized rats. • Intravenous bolus injection of EOCZ (1–20 mg/kg) elicited dose-dependent hypotension and bradycardia that were immediate and transient. Similar responses were also observed with anethole and estragole (both at 10 mg/kg). After cervical bivagotomy or perineural treatment of both cervical vagus nerves with capsaicin (250 mg/mL) to selectively block the conduction of sensory C-fibres, both cardiovascular responses to EOCZ (10 mg/kg) were abolished. • Like capsaicin, an epigastric retrograde intra-arterial injection of EOCZ (10 mg/kg, i.a.) into the femoral artery elicited a monophasic hypotensive response. This reflex response was blocked by either neonatal pretreatment with capsaicin (50 mg/kg, s.c.) or intrathecal injection of the substance P receptor antagonist RP 67580 (7.8 nmol, at the spinal level L5–L6), suggesting that it is mediated exclusively by substance P-containing primary afferent fibres. • The cardiovascular responses to EOCZ (10 mg/kg, i.v.) were also significantly reduced by the selective vallinoid TPRV1 receptor antagonist capsazepine (1 mg/kg, i.v.). • It is concluded that i.v. administration of EOCZ in anaesthetized rats elicits a capsaicin-like bradycardic and depressor reflex, which appears to be mediated by the activation of vallinoid TPRV1 receptors located on vagal sensory nerves. Like capsaicin, i.a. injection of EOCZ induces a spinally mediated sensory reflex.Keywords: anethole; Croton zehntneri; essential oil; estragole; perineural capsaicin treatment; sensory C-fibres; vagal and spinal reflexes; vallinoid receptors
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2006.04352.x
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