Sex differences in inflammation evoked by noxious chemical, heat and electrical stimulation

Neurogenic inflammation (NI) is a feature of several inflammatory pain conditions in which females are overrepresented. Therefore, we asked if there are sex differences in the inflammatory response evoked by well known neurogenic stimuli. We compared the amount of plasma extravasation (PE), a measure of inflammation, in the hindpaw skin of male and female rats caused by subcutaneous injection of capsaicin, application of noxious heat (51 °C water bath) or electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve. We also compared the amount of PE in males and females evoked by substance P (SP), the principal neurogenic mediator of PE. PE was quantified using a video camera and digital image analysis to measure changes in reflectance (pixel intensity, PI) of skin due to accumulation of extravasated Evans blue (EB) dye. The increase in PI induced by capsaicin was significantly greater in females compared to males (p < 0.001) and in estrus, diestrus, and metestrus females compared to proestrus females. The time to reach maximal capsaicin-induced PE was two times longer in estrus, diestrus, and metestrus females compared to males (p < 0.05). PE induced by heat was also significantly greater in females compared to males (p < 0.001), however, there was no sex-related difference in PE induced by electrical stimulation or by injection of SP. These findings show that females have a greater inflammatory response when inflammation is induced by capsaicin and noxious heat suggesting possible sex-related changes in TRPV-1 receptor mediated mechanisms. These results add to the growing list of sex difference responses to noxious somatic stimulation.