Capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons in adaptive responses of the rat stomach induced by a mild irritant.

Exposure of rat stomach to 1 M NaCl reduced the transmucosal potential difference (PD) followed by an increase of luminal pH and gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF). Desensitization of capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons significantly mitigated the increase in GMBF without affecting PD and pH responses. Mucosal application of capsaicin increased GMBF with no effect on PD and pH. The findings suggest that capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons may be involved in the regulatory mechanism of GMBF responses induced by a mild irritant.