Abstract
To investigate analgesic mechanism of capsaicin and its analogues (capsaicinoids), release of adenosine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography from dorsal spinal cord synaptosomes, Exposure of synaptosomes to K$\^$+/ and morphine produced a dose dependent release of adenosine in the presence of Ca$\^$++/. Capsaicin (0.1, 1, 10 M), and its analogues 6-paradol (1, 10 M), NE-19550 (1, 10, 100 M), DMNE (1, 10, 100 M) and KR 25018 (0.1, 1, 10 M) produced a dose dependent release of adenosine in the presence of Ca$\^$++/. Nifedipine, L-type voltage sensitive calcium channel blocker, inhibited K$\^$+/ (6, 12 mM)- and morphine (10 M)-evoked release of adenosine completely, but inhibited capsaicin, and capsaicinoids-evoked release of adenosine partially. Capsazepine, a novel capsaicin select ive antagonist, blocked only capsaicin and capsaicinoids induced release of adenosine. Therefore, the adenosine release by capsaicin and capsaicinoids having antinociceptive effects involve activation of capsaicin specific receptor and capsaicin sensitive Ca$\^$++/ channel.