Antagonists of sensory neuropeptides inhibit the secondary phase of increased circulation following thermally induced inflammation.

A model of thermally induced inflammation in the anesthetized rat was used to measure acute microcirculatory reactions after heat exposure. The thermal injury was inflicted by dipping the right hindpaw into hot water at 60 degrees for 20 s. Local blood flow was recorded simultaneously in both hindpaws and continuously by laser Doppler flowmetry before, during and for 2 h after the thermal injury and the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was displayed on a chart recorder. To assess the contribution of the nervous system to the vascular changes seen, neuropeptide antagonists directed toward substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were administered. The neurokinin antagonists (NK1, NK2) and the CGRP antagonist (CGRP8-37) were injected via a catheter into the jugular vein. During the first few minutes after thermal injury to the controls, an immediate increase in blood perfusion of about 351% was recorded, followed by a slow decrease of circulation. At 30 min after thermal injury, there was a secondary phase of increased microcirculation of approximately 329%. A slow decline of cutaneous circulation then followed and, after another 30 min, the value stabilized at a level about 100% above the level before injury. Pretreatment with intravenous injections of the NK1 antagonist, NK2 antagonist, and CGRP8-37 attenuated the first phase and almost abolished the secondary phase. No significant change of perfusion was observed on the unscalded paw. The MAP remained at a stable level throughout the experiment and was not affected by the thermal injury or by the administration of the antagonists as compared to controls. Our results show that sensory neuropeptides play a significant role in the blood flow increase seen following thermal injury.