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The role of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons on the survival of experimental critical flaps was studied in the rat. Pretreatment with capsaicin, which depletes neuropeptide transmitter content from primary sensory neurons, caused a dramatic decrease in flap survival area compared to normal animals. In contrast, pretreatment with reserpine, which depletes catecholamines from adrenergic neurons, including the sympathetic post-ganglionic fibers, resulted in a significant increase in the survival area. It was concluded that both capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons and sympathetic postganglionic adrenergic neurons play a role in systemic vascular regulation and that intact primary sensory neurons are of importance for the survival of ischemic tissue.
Kjartansson et al. (Sun,) studied this question.