Compartment analysis of vascular effects of neuropeptides and capsaicin in the pig nasal mucosa.

The vascular effects of local infusion of capsaicin, substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were monitored in an experimental model on the pig nasal mucosa. Arterial, venous and superficial mucosal blood flow (laser-Doppler flowmetry) as well as mucosal volume, reflecting changes in capacitance vessels were studied in parallel. All substances induced concentration dependent increases in the parameters studied with the exception of the decrease in the superficial mucosal flow induced by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. This latter finding was interpreted as a stealing phenomenon and suggests that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide mainly exerts its vasodilatory effect in the deeper glandular layers of the nasal mucosa. The vasodilatory effect of capsaicin, except the laser-Doppler signal, was markedly reduced by pretreatment with a combination of the ganglionic blocking agent chlorisondamine and atropine implying that capsaicin evokes a central reflex with a final parasympathetic pathway and release of agents like vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The remaining capsaicin response may depend on a local effect with axon reflexes and the release of sensory neuropeptides with actions on superficial mucosal blood flow.