Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 inhibitors block laparotomy‐ and opioid‐induced infarct size reduction in rats

Background and Purpose In light of the opioid epidemic, physicians are increasingly prescribing non‐opioid analgesics to surgical patients. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) inhibitors are potentially alternative pain therapeutics for surgery. Here, we examined in rodents whether the cardioprotection conferred by two common procedures during surgery, a laparotomy or morphine delivery, is mediated by the TRPV1 channel. We further tested whether an experimental analgesic peptide (known as P5) targeted against the TRPV1 C‐terminus region interferes with laparotomy‐ or morphine‐induced cardioprotection. Experimental Approach Male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min coronary occlusion followed by 120 min reperfusion. Before ischaemia, a laparotomy with or without capsaicin application (0.1% cream, a TRPV1 activator) was performed. Additional rats were given morphine (0.3 mg·kg −1 ) with or without capsaicin. In addition, capsazepine (3 mg·kg −1 , a classical TRPV1 inhibitor), or P5 (3 mg·kg −1 , a peptide analgesic and TRPV1 inhibitor), was given either alone or prior to a laparotomy or morphine administration. Myocardial infarct size was determined. Key Results A laparotomy, in addition to combining a laparotomy with capsaicin cream, reduced infarct size versus control. Morphine, in addition to combining morphine administration with capsaicin cream, also reduced infarct size versus control. When TRPV1 inhibitors capsazepine or P5 were given, either TRPV1 inhibitor abolished the infarct size reduction mediated by a laparotomy or morphine. Conclusions and Implications Inhibiting the TRPV1 channel blocks laparotomy‐ or morphine‐induced cardioprotection. Impaired organ protection may be a potential pitfall of using TRPV1 inhibitors for pain control.