Somatosensory Afferents in the Parasympathetic Vasodilator Reflex in Cat Lip

Somato-parasympathetic reflexive vasodilatation elicited by activation of the nociceptors in the oro-facial areas of the cat was investigated. Changes in lower lip blood flow monitored by a laser Doppler flowmeter took place in pentobarbital-anesthetized and artificially respirated cats. Pinch and heat stimulation of the oro-facial areas evoked a blood flow increase similar to that of electrically induced vasodilatation. Sustained increased responses in blood flow were obtained when a 1% capsaicin solution was applied to the tongue. These results show that the C-polymodal nociceptor is a strong candidate for a receptor that provokes somato-parasympathetic vasodilatation. Capsaicin-insensitive nerve fibers, however, also participate because electrical stimulation of the capsaicin-treated tongue evoked vasodilatation. The correlation between noxious stimulation-induced vasodilatation and systemic blood pressure change also is discussed.