Capsaicin-induced rapid neutrophil leukocyte activation in the rat urinary bladder microcirculatory bed

This study was initiated to investigate the involvement of neutrophil leukocyte activation in neurogenic inflammation, a process also involved in human urinary pathologies, elicited in the rat urinary bladder by the local administration of capsaicin, the archetypal TRPV1 agonist. The contribution of afferent nerves and sensory neuropeptides to leukocyte activation in the urinary bladder microcirculatory bed was examined.

Following a 15-min topical application of capsaicin (50 μM), leukocyte-endothelial interactions were examined for an observation period of 45 min with intravital microscopy. Expression of adhesion molecules E-selectin and ICAM-1 implicated in these interactions was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Selective sensory denervation was performed by neonatal treatment with capsaicin. The role of the TRPV1 receptor and two sensory neuropeptides (CGRP and substance P [SP]) were studied using the selective antagonists capsazepine, CGRP_8-37 and RP67580, respectively.

Capsaicin induced rapid increases in leukocyte rolling and adhesion and increased the expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 in the postcapillary venules. Sensory chemodenervation via capsaicin and also TRPV1 receptor antagonism effectively prevented these changes. A similar reduction was observed in leukocyte adhesion after topical application of CGRP_8-34 or RP67580, but only CGRP_8-34 reduced the capsaicin-evoked leukocyte rolling.

Topical application of capsaicin induces early neurogenically mediated cellular microcirculatory inflammatory reactions via the activation of the TRPV1 receptor and the release of CGRP and SP from sensory nerves in the bladder. Co-administration of SP and CGRP receptor antagonists may ameliorate microcirculatory inflammatory changes elicited by capsaicin in the urinary bladder.