The Effect of Capsaicin on the Peripheral Nerve Damage of Intervibrissal Fur in Rats

Capsaicin을 투여한 성숙 흰쥐의 Intervibrissal Fur 부위의 말초 신경 손상에 관하여

Purpose: To see the effects of capsaicin on the peripheral nerve damage of intervibrissal fur in mature rats, Method: 24 female mature rats($200{\sim}250g$) are divided to 3 groups and compared with each other. Immunofluorescence dye using CGRP and PGP antibodies was performed and 8 weeks after administration of capsaicin with control group. Result: The immunopositive reaction against PGP and CGRP was reduced by the damage of epidermal and dermal endings in unmyelinated sheath and thin myelinated sheath and the group after 8weeks showed distinct positive reaction of PGP and CGRP than the group after 4 weeks which means the recover of nerves. Conclusion: As a result, capsaicin influenced on pain-related neurotransmitter like CGRP when administerd to mature rats and even though it caused the damages on unmyelinated sheath and thin myelinated sheath, the damaged nerves recovered after 8 weeks. Also the research about sensory nerve endings scattered over middle dermal and deep epidermal layers such as lanceolate, merkel reticular, Ruffini endings should be studied when the research of the inner conical body is performed. Further studies are necessary about the toxicity and effect of capsaicin on the peripheral nerve endings.