Capsaicin Causes Vasorelaxation of Rat Aorta through Blocking of L-type Ca(2+) Channels and Activation of CB(1) Receptors

The aim of this work was to determine whether Capsaicin may exert a vascular regulation through the activation of CB(1) and/or CB(2) receptors causing vasorelaxation in the rat aorta. Our results show the location of TRPV1 mainly in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells membrane. Nevertheless, Capsaicin caused vasorelaxation of this artery through a mechanism independent of TRPV1, since the specific antagonists Capsazepine and SB-366791 did not block the effect of Capsaicin. Because the significant expression of CB(1) and CB(2) receptors has been previously reported in the rat aorta, we used antagonists for these two receptors prior to the addition of Capsaicin. In these experiments, we found that the inhibition of CB(1) using AM281, decreases the vasorelaxant effect caused by Capsaicin. On the other hand, the vasorelaxant effect is not altered in the presence of the CB(2) receptor antagonist AM630. Furthermore, a partial decrease of the effect of Capsaicin was also seen when L-type calcium channels are blocked. A complete block of Capsaicin-induced vasorelaxation was achieved using a combination of Verapamil and AM281. In accordance to our results, Capsaicin-induced vasorelaxation of the rat aorta is neither dependent of TRPV1 or CB(2) receptors, but rather it is strongly suggested that a tandem mechanism between inactivation of L-type calcium channels and the direct activation of CB(1) receptors is involved. These findings are supported by CB(1) docking simulation which predicted a binding site on CB(1) receptors for Capsaicin.