Substance P‐induced vasodilatation is mediated by the neurokinin type 1 receptor but does not contribute to basal vascular tone in man

Abstract

Aims Following intravenous administration of its prodrug, L‐758,298, we assessed the pharmacodynamics of L‐754,030, a novel and highly selective NK₁ receptor antagonist, by examining systemic haemodynamics and the blood flow responses to intra‐arterial substance P infusion. Methods Sixteen healthy male volunteers participated in a double‐blind, randomised, placebo controlled crossover trial of L‐758 298. Forearm blood flow was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography during intrabrachial substance P infusion (0.125–128 pmol min⁻¹ ). In part 1, eight subjects received substance P infusions before and during placebo, 0.25 mg, 1 mg or 5 mg of L‐758 298. In part 2, eight subjects received substance P infusions 24 h after placebo or 1.43 mg of L‐758 298. Results L‐758 298 caused dose dependent inhibition of substance P induced vasodilatation (P1400–fold shift in substance P response): 0.00 (−0.49 to +0.49) ml 100 ml⁻¹ min⁻¹, 1.0 (−3.2 to +5.2) mmHg and 1.9 (−5.9 to +9.7) beats min⁻¹, respectively. Twenty‐four hours after 1.43 mg of L‐758,298, there was ~34–fold shift in response to substance P induced vasodilatation (P−1. L‐758 298 was generally well tolerated without serious adverse events. Conclusions Substance P induced forearm vasodilatation is mediated by the endothelial cell NK₁ receptor in man but endogenous substance P does not appear to contribute to the maintenance of peripheral vascular tone or systemic blood pressure.