Nostril capsaicin application as a model of trigeminal primary sensory neuronal activation.

Abstract

Capsaicin was applied unilaterally to the nostril mucosa of 18 episodic cluster headache sufferers in remission. Plasma and saliva levels of substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Increase of salivary SP-LI and CGRP-LI as well as of plasma CGRP-LI occurred after capsaicin stimulation. Capsaicin-induced neurochemical changes in saliva and in plasma were compared to the changes observed during cluster headache attacks measured in a separate study. The comparative changes in SP, CGRP and VIP characterizing these two conditions suggest that trigeminal capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurones are unlikely to play any fundamental role in the mechanics of cluster headache.

• Authors: M Nicolodi
• Journal: Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache (Cephalalgia) Vol. 14 Issue 2 Pg. 134-8 (Apr 1994) ISSN: 0333-1024 [Print] England
• PMID: 7520365 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Substance P
• Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
• Capsaicin

Topics

• Administration, Intranasal
• Adult
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (metabolism)
• Capsaicin (administration & dosage)
• Cluster Headache (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Neurons, Afferent (drug effects)
• Radioimmunoassay
• Saliva (metabolism)
• Substance P (metabolism)
• Trigeminal Nerve (cytology, drug effects)
• Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (metabolism)