Morphofunctional changes in the rat spleen after capsaicin blockade of peripheral afferent neurons

: Certain parameters of spleen morphological state 2 wks following the administration of neurotoxic (150 and 200 mg/kg) doses of capsaicine were studied in male Wistar rats. Widening of veins, rise of splenorenal index, increase in neutrophilic granulocyte number in red pulp, appearance of pyroninophilic elements in it, intensification of plasmocytic reaction in germinal centres and phagocytic siderophages activity, growth of number of megakaryocytes and megakaryoblasts and formation of colonies of these cells were noted. Comparison of the results obtained with the effects of surgical spleen deafferentation suggest that sensory neuropeptide mediated neurons, possess bilateral connections with central nervous system and may provide its control over peripheral homeostatic functions.