Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor after low dose capsaicin administration in rat duodenum

Growth factors are essential for the development, growth and homeostasis of multicellular organisms and play an important role in the development and the maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract. Capsaicin (CAP) with neurotoxic properties has been shown to have a protective effect against experimental gastric mucosal injury in animals and humans. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and ıt’s receptore has been shown to exert gastric hyperemic and gastroprotective effects via capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons, including the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The. aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of low dose capsaicin (CAP) on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in the duodenum. In this study, 21-day-old rats were divided into two groups as CAP-treated and vehicle. CAP prepared in a solvent and injected subcutaneously to CAP-treated group (0.5 mg/kg/d) and vehicle group was injected with only solvent for 20 days. At the end of the experiment, tissue samples were collected and paraffin-embedded tissues were processed for standard immunohistochemistry by the labelled streptavidin-biotin technique. The EGFR localizations were identified on the surface epithelium of the villi, Lieberkühn crypts, in the Brunner’s glands and smooth muscles layer of the duodenumIn the experimental group, the expression of EGFR in surface epithelial cells was not different compared to the control group, while the expressions in the Lieberukhn crypts, Brunner's glands and smooth muscle layer were stronger than the control group. As a result, the low dose capsaicin increased EGFR expression in the digestive system and probably have positive effects on the digestive system