Copyright © 1994 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Capsaicin, substance P, and ovalbumin, instilled into the bladders of naive and ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized guineapigs caused inflammation, as indicated by increased vascular permeability. Histological changes after exposure to these compounds progressed with time from intense vasodilatation to marginalization of granulocytes followed by interstitial migration of leukocytes. In vitro incubation of guinea-pig bladder tissue with substance P and ovalbumin stimulated release of prostaglandin D₂ and leukotrienes. In vitro incubation of bladder tissue with capsaicin, OVA, prostaglandin D₂, leukotriene C₄, histamine, or calcium ionophore A-23587 all stimulated substance P release. These data suggest that bladder inflammation initiated by a variety of stimuli could lead to a cyclic pattern of release of inflammatory mediators and neuropeptides, which could result in amplification and persistence of cystitis after the inciting cause has subsided.