Horseradish peroxidase permeability across rat nasal mucosa in selective stimulation of substance P innervation with capsaicin.

To investigate the physiological role of substance P innervation (SPI) in the nasal mucosa from inhaled irritant macromolecules, SPI in the rat nasal mucosa was selectively stimulated with capsaicin and the degree of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) permeability across the nasal epithelium was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay or by histochemical electron microscopy. The serum level of HRP was reduced significantly in capsaicin-administered rats compared to control rats along the time course with quantitative analysis of the enzyme immunoassay. Control rats showed heavy permeation of HRP across the epithelium, but capsaicin-administered rats showed weak permeation of HRP across the epithelium with histochemical electron microscopy. The epithelial lining and its tight junctions were left intact as judged by electron microscopy. In conclusion, selective stimulation of SPI of the rat nasal mucosa with capsaicin decreased the epithelial absorption permeability to HRP without compromising the epithelial integrity. These findings imply that the physiological role of capsaicin-sensitive SPI in the rat mucosa is to protect the airway from inhaled irritant macromolecules.