Substance P and capsaicin-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in the rat knee joint; the involvement of bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors

1. Substance P (SP) and capsaicin induced a mechanical hyperalgesia when injected into rat knee joints. 2. The NK1 receptor antagonists CP 99994 (10-100 nmol) and RP 67580 (0.1-1 nmol) blocked the development of, and also reversed, SP-induced hyperalgesia. Capsaicin (10 nmol)-induced hyperalgesia was blocked by capsazepine (0.5-5 nmol). 3. Capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia was prevented and reversed by the NK1 receptor antagonists CP 99994 (100 nmol) and RP 67580 (1 nmol). 4. The bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist icatibant (5 pmol) blocked the development of both SP and capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia. Icatibant (100 pmol kg-1, i.v.) also reversed an established SP and capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia. 5. Both low dose SP (1 nmol) and capsaicin (1 nmol)-induced hyperalgesia were potentiated by the kininase II inhibitor captopril (100 micrograms). 6. The B1 receptor antagonists desArg9Leu8-bradykinin (BK) (0.5-5 nmol) and desArg10[Hoe 140] (5-50 pmol) only blocked the development of SP-induced hyperalgesia for 30 min after administration. desArg9Leu8-BK (10 nmol kg-1 i.v.) did not reverse an established SP-induced hyperalgesia. 7. Capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia was blocked by desArg9Leu8-BK (0.5 nmol) and this antagonist also reversed an established capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia. 8. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra 0.1 microgram) reduced the development of SP-induced hyperalgesia up to 4 h after administration, but did not reverse an established hyperalgesia. IL-1ra (0.1 microgram) also blocked the development of and reversed an established capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia. 9. Indomethacin pretreatment (1 mg kg-1, s.c.) did not reduce the development of either SP- or capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia but following indomethacin-pretreatment desArg9Leu8-BK (10 nmol kg-1, i.v.) failed to reverse a capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia. 10. In conclusion, both SP and capsaicin can induce behavioural hyperalgesia when injected into the knee joint of rats. In addition, blockade of NK1, bradykinin B1, B2 and IL-1 beta receptors can substantially modulate this hyperalgesia.