Wan Pui Chu Christina. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-191). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / PUBLICATIONS BASED ON WORK IN THIS THESIS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction to the Vanilloid Receptor --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Properties of the VR1 Channel --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Explaining the Unexplained: De sensitization and Pungency --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Quest for the Endogenous Ligand: Activation versus Modulation --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Anandamide and the Cannabinoid System --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Inflammatory Mediators and Lipid Metabolites --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3 --- The Variegated Vanilloid Receptor: Multiple Actions of TRPV1 --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Vanilloid-induced Hypothermia: some like it cold --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- "Three's a crowd: Vanilloids, Substance P, and the Emetic Reflex" --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Grooming Behavior and Locomotor Changes: Further Involvement of Neurokinins? --- p.29 / Chapter 1.4 --- Aims and Objectives of the Present Study --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- METHODS --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1 --- Animals --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2 --- Stereotaxic Surgery and Transmitter Implantation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3 --- Measurement of Emesis and Genital Grooming --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4 --- Measurement of Locomotor Activity and Body Temperature --- p.41 / Chapter 2.5 --- Experimental Procedures for Central Injection Studies --- p.45 / Chapter 2.6 --- Experimental Procedures for Peripheral Injection Studies --- p.47 / Chapter 2.7 --- Drug Formulation --- p.48 / Chapter 2.8 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.49 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1 --- Actions of Intracerebroventricularly Administered Vanilloid Agonists --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- General Behaviour --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Emetic Action of Vanilloids --- p.52 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Anti-Emetic action of Vanilloids against Copper Sulphate --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Vanilloid-induced Hypothermia --- p.58 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- RTX-induced Genital Grooming --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Effects of Vanilloids on Locomotor Activity --- p.67 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- Summary of Central Agonist Studies --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2 --- Effects of Intracerebroventricularly Administered Capsazepine on Vanilloid-induced Responses --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Effect of Capsazepine on Vanilloid-induced Emesis --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Effect of Capsazepine on the Anti-Emetic Action of Vanilloids --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Effect of Capsazepine on Vanilloid-induced Hypothermia --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Effect of Capsazepine on RTX-induced Genital Grooming --- p.88 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Effect of Capsazepine on Locomotor Activity of Vanilloid-treated Animals --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3 --- "Peripheral Studies with RTX，,Capsazepine, and Ruthenium Red" --- p.93 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Experiment 1: Actions of Resiniferatoxin --- p.93 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Experiment 2: Effects of Capsazepine and Ruthenium Red administered alone --- p.99 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Experiment 3: Effects of Capsazepine and Ruthenium Red on RTX- induced Responses --- p.104 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.113 / Chapter 4.1 --- General Considerations --- p.113 / Chapter 4.2 --- Emetic Action of Vanilloids --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3 --- Anti-Emetic Action of Vanilloids --- p.124 / Chapter 4.4 --- Hypothermic Action of Vanilloids --- p.133 / Chapter 4.5 --- Resiniferatoxin-induced Genital Grooming --- p.147 / Chapter 4.6 --- Actions of Capsazepine and Ruthenium Red --- p.152 / Chapter 4.7 --- Locomotor Activity --- p.157 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- SUMMARY --- p.162 / REFERENCES --- p.167