The role of C-afferents in mediating neurogenic vasodilatation in plantar skin after acute sciatic nerve injury in rats

Background Vasomotor regulation of dermal blood vessels, which are critical in the function of the skin in thermoregulatory control, involves both neural and non-neural mechanisms. Whereas the role of sympathetic nerves in regulating vasomotor activities is comprehensively studied and well recognized, that of sensory nerves is underappreciated. Studies in rodents have shown that severance of the sciatic nerve leads to vasodilatation in the foot, but whether sympathetic or sensory nerve fibers or both are responsible for the neurogenic vasodilatation remains unknown. Results In adult Sprague–Dawley rats, vasodilatation after transection of the sciatic nerve gradually diminished to normal within 3–4 days. The neurotmesis-induced neurogenic vasodilatation was not detectable when the sciatic nerve was chronically deafferentated by selective resection of the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) that supply the nerve. Specific activation of C-afferents by intra-neural injection of capsaicin resulted in neurogenic vasodilatation to a magnitude comparable to that by neurotmesis, and transection of the sciatic nerve pre-injected with capsaicin did not induce further vasodilatation. Conclusions Our results collectively indicate that vasodilatation after traumatic nerve injury in rats is predominantly mediated by C-fiber afferents.