Antinociceptive effects of neonatal capsaicin in rats with adjuvant arthritis

Rats were treated with capsaicin (50 mg/kg, SC) either on the second day or on the second and third days of life. A significant attenuation of the responses to noxious stimuli was obtained in the capsaicin treated animals as measured by the hot-plate or paw pressure tests but not by the tail-flick test. Furthermore, neonatal capsaicin produced a significant reduction of response in the formalin test. Capsaicin reduced the reaction latency in rats with adjuvant arthritis as measured by the hot-plate and paw pressure tests, though capsaicin did not alter the overall time course of the response to Freund's adjuvant. Capsaicin also attenuated the weight loss or the decreased ambulatory and rearing behaviours which occurred in the control animals with adjuvant arthritis. It is suggested that neonatal treatment with capsaicin may relieve the responsiveness to long-lasting nociceptive stimuli by adjuvant in rats.