Stimulation of cyclic GMP production via a nitrosyl factor in sensory neuronal cultures by algesic or inflammatory agents.

Capsaicin stimulates cyclic GMP production via nitric oxide (NO) (or another nitrosyl factor) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons maintained in culture. The purpose of the present study was to characterize further capsaicin stimulation of cyclic GMP production in DRG cells maintained in culture, investigate other algesic and/or inflammatory agents for effects on cyclic GMP production, and examine cells responsible for NO production and cyclic GMP production. Capsaicin stimulation of cyclic GMP production in DRG cells was dose dependent, receptor mediated, and attenuated by hemoglobin. Prostaglandin E2, substance P, and calcitonin gene-related peptide did not affect basal, capsaicin-stimulated, or bradykinin-stimulated cyclic GMP production. Other inflammatory or algesic agents, including serotonin, histamine, ATP, glutamate, aspartate, and NMDA, did not affect cyclic GMP production. Pretreatment of DRG cells with lipopolysaccharide increased basal cyclic GMP production in neuronal but not in nonneuronal cultures and facilitated stimulation of cyclic GMP production by L-arginine. Capsaicin pretreatment of neuronal DRG cultures, which destroys capsaicin-sensitive (small diameter) afferent neurons, attenuated capsaicin- and bradykinin-stimulated cyclic GMP production but did not affect basal or sodium nitroprusside-stimulated cyclic GMP production. These results indicate that capsaicin elicits production of a nitrosyl factor via capsaicin-sensitive (small diameter) neurons. Capsaicin evoked cyclic GMP production in nonneuronal DRG cultures in the presence but not in the absence of apposed neuronal DRG cultures. Overall, these findings suggest that specific exogenous (or endogenous) substances may stimulate production of a nitrosyl factor(s) by a subset of DRG neurons, and nitrosyl factors produced by these neurons may affect cyclic GMP production in neighboring neuronal or non-neuronal cells.