TRPV1, NK1 receptor and substance P immunoreactivity and gene expression in the rat lumbosacral spinal cord and urinary bladder after systemic, low dose vanilloid administration

► Sensory neurons in the rat bladder express TRPV1 and contain substance P. ► Systemic vanilloid administration may desensitise/destroy these neurons. ► Spinal cord and bladder TRPV1, SP and NK1 receptor expression changed after capsaicin and resiniferatoxin administration. ► Vanilloid administration may alter transcription and translation of TRPV1, SP and NK1 receptors.