Time course of effect of capsaicin on ultrastructure and histochemistry of substance P-immunoreactive nerves associated with the cardiovascular system of the guinea-pig

Abstract

Capsaicin, a neurotoxin which depletes substance P from primary afferent nerve fibres, was injected systematically into adult guinea pigs. The effects of capsaicin were studied by immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and radioimmunoassay at times from 5 min to 1 year. Within 5 min after a single injection of capsaicin (50 mg/kg) substance P immunofluorescence appeared less intense and less homogeneous than normal (i.e. it appeared granular). Large nerve trunks remained evident, but there were fewer fine single nerve fibres. With increasing time there was a progressive decrease in the number of immunoreactive fibres; by 4 h there was a marked reduction in the number of fibres and by 24 h..