AIM: Lafutidine, a histamine H2 receptor antagonist, exhibits gastro-protective action mediated by capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons (CSN). We compared the effect between lafutidine and capsaicin, with respect to the interaction with endogenous prostaglandins (PG), nitric oxide (NO) and the afferent neurons, including transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1). METHODS: Male SD rats and C57BL/6 mice, both wild-type and prostacyclin IP receptor knockout animals, were used after 18 h of fasting. Gastric lesions were induced by the po administration of HCI/ethanol (60% in 150 mmol/L HCI) in a volume of 1 mL for rats or 0.3 mL for mice. RESULTS: Both lafutidine and capsaicin (1-10 mg/kg, po) afforded dose-dependent protection against HCI/ ethanol in rats and mice. The effects were attenuated by both the ablation of CSN and pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, yet only the effect of capsaicin was mitigated by prior administration of capsazepine, the TRPV1 antagonist, as well as indomethacin. Lafutidine protected the stomach against HCI/ethanol in IP receptor knockout mice, similar to wild-type animals, while capsaicin failed to afford protection in the animals lacking IP receptors. Neither of these agents affected the mucosal PGE2 or 6-keto PGF1αcontents in rat stomachs. Capsaicin evoked an increase in [Ca2+]i in rat TRPV1-transfected HEK293 cells while lafutidine did not. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that although both lafutidine and capsaicin exhibit gastro-protective action mediated by CSN, the mode of their effects differs regarding the dependency on endogenous PGs/IP receptors and TRPV1. It is assumed that lafutidine interacts with CSN at yet unidentified sites other than TRPV1. AIM: Lafutidine, a histamine H2 receptor antagonist, exhibits gastro-protective action mediated by capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons (CSN). We compared the effect between lafutidine and capsaicin, with respect to the interaction with endogenous prostaglandins (PG), nitric oxide NO) and the afferent neurons, including transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1). METHODS: Male SD rats and C57BL / 6 mice, both wild-type and prostacyclin IP receptor knockout animals, were used after 18 h of fasting. Gastric lesions were induced by the po administration of HCI / ethanol (60% in 150 mmol / L HCI) in a volume of 1 mL for rats or 0.3 mL for mice. RESULTS: Both lafutidine and capsaicin (1-10 mg / kg, po) afforded dose-dependent protection against HCI / ethanol in rats and mice. The effects were attenuated by both the ablation of CSN and pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, yet only the effect of capsaicin was mitigated by prior administration of capsazepine , the TRPV1 ant agonist, as well as indomethacin. Lafutidine protected the stomach against HCI / ethanol in IP receptor knockout mice, similar to wild-type animals, while capsaicin failed to afford protection in the animals lacking IP receptors. Neither of these agents affected the mucosal PGE2 or 6-keto PGF1αcontents in rat stomachs. Capsaicin evoked an increase in [Ca2 +] i in rat TRPV1-transfected HEK293 cells while lafutidine did not. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that both both lafutidine and capsaicin exhibit gastro-protective action mediated by CSN, the mode of their effects differs regarding the dependency on endogenous PGs / IP receptors and TRPV1. It is assumed that lafutidine interacts with CSN at yet unidentified sites other than TRPV1.