Capsaicin-sensitive afferents activate a sympathetic intestinointestinal inhibitory reflex in dogs

1. In urethane-anaesthetized dogs, an intra-arterial infusion of capsaicin (0.7-14 nmol min-1) into a separated jejunal segment inhibited a vagally evoked cholinergic contraction of the other non-infused segments. The mechanism of this reflex was investigated. 2. The inhibition by capsaicin was abolished after bilateral splanchnic nerve section or cervical spinal cord transection (C5 or C6), but was unaffected by bilateral vagotomy. Decerebration partially reduced the inhibition. 3. The inhibition by capsaicin was abolished by pre-treatment with phentolamine or yohimbine, but was unaffected by prazosin or propranolol. 4. Sympathetic efferent discharge of the mesenteric nerve increased with capsaicin application, during which time vagally evoked contractions were inhibited. 5. Single-unit discharges of the major splanchnic and mesenteric afferents increased with capsaicin infusion to the loop which was innervated by the units. 6. Together the results implied that capsaicin stimulated canine intestinal primary afferents, resulting in the sympathetic intestinointestinal inhibitory reflex supraspinally. The inhibition of vagally evoked contractions may be due to a presynaptic inhibition via alpha 2-adrenoceptors, which are activated by the reflex.