Capsaicin-sensitive afferent vagal neurons innervating the rat liver.

The effects of neonatal capsaicin treatment on the vagal afferent neurons innervating the liver have been studied in the rat. The smallest neurons (up to 180 microns 2) innervating the left and median lobes and the right and caudate lobes of the liver are completely destroyed by neonatal capsaicin administration and the number of neurons up to 300 microns 2 is reduced. It is suggested that the capsaicin-sensitive neurons in the nodose ganglion innervating the liver may be involved in nociception.