Elevation of thermoregulatory vasodilatation threshold in the rat after capsaicin treatment.

In control and capsaicin-treated (300 mg/kg) rats tail skin vasodilatation was studied while the body temperature was raised to 38 degrees C, 39 degrees C or 40 degrees C and held at these levels. In the capsaicin-treated rats, at 38 degrees C vasodilatation was weaker than in the controls but at temperatures of 39 degrees C and 40 degrees C a delayed increase in tail vasodilatation occurred to the level observed in the controls. It is concluded that the threshold of vasodilatation response to heat is elevated after capsaicin treatment.