Effect of red peppers (Capsicum frutescens) intake during gestation on thermonociceptive response of rat offspring

Oral administration of aqueous red pepper (Capsicum frutescens, Cf) solutio n and low capsaicin (5-methyl-iV-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) doses during gestat ion produces an increase in the latency of the thermonociceptive escape res ponse of rat offspring. The present work shows that different amounts of Cf (10%, 25% and 50%) incorporated to normal food of gestating rats modify in a dose-dependent manner the flexion reflex latency (R), as well as the lat ency of appearance of antialgesic behaviours expressed as paw lick (P) and escape response (E) using the hot plate test (53 degreesC +/- 0.5 degreesC) . The latency of the same parameters was tested in the same subjects 55 day s later to determine the persistence of this effect. Results show an increa se in latency of the three parameters R, P and E in all experimental groups with respect to controls. Animals (Cf, 25% group) tested 55 days after the first rest exhibited latencies similar to controls, which suggests that th e process is reversible. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .