Pulmonary depressor reflex elicited by capsaicin in conscious intact and lung-denervated dogs

A pulmonary depressor reflex has been shown to be elicited in anesthetized cats, dogs, and rats by intravenous injection of capsaicin. The effects observed include apnea, hypotension, and bradycardia with some investigators reporting tachypnea following the apneic period. We investigated the response to a bolus injection of capsaicin (20 micrograms/kg) into the cephalic vein in 11 conscious beagle dogs. Five control dogs underwent sham thoracotomies, and six dogs underwent selective denervation of the lungs. A low dead-space latex rubber mask was used to monitor ventilation, and arterial blood pressure was obtained by catheterizing an exteriorized carotid artery. In four of the five control dogs the observed response was apnea concomitant with hypotension and bradycardia, followed by tachypnea. In five of the six lung-denervated dogs there was a slight tachypnea along with hypertension. It is concluded that the pulmonary depressor reflex can be elicited in conscious dogs by intravenous injection of capsaicin but is absent in lung-denervated dogs.