title: Mechanism of the vasodilator action of calcitonin gene-related peptide in conscious rats.
abstract: 1. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the hypotensive effect of rat alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (alpha CGRP) in conscious rats is mediated by endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) or the opening of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. 2. Dose-mean arterial pressure (MAP)-response curves of alpha CGRP were examined in the presence of vehicle, phenylephrine, KATP channel antagonist glibenclamide or NO synthase inhibitors, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME). Dose-MAP-response curves for sodium nitroprusside were also constructed in the presence and absence of L-NAME and D-NAME. 3. alpha CGRP and nitroprusside produced dose-dependent reductions in MAP which were potentiated by phenylephrine. Both L-NAME and D-NAME attenuated the depressor response to alpha CGRP but not nitroprusside. 4. Dose-MAP-response curves for pinacidil, a KATP-channel activator, were also examined in the presence of glibenclamide or vehicle. Glibenclamide attenuated pinacidil- but not alpha CGRP-induced reductions in MAP. 5. It is concluded that the hypotensive effects of alpha CGRP are partially mediated via endothelium-derived NO but not via the opening of KATP channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020110:Pinacidil; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006146:Guanidines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D010656:Phenylephrine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D020110:Pinacidil; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D001120:Arginine; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005905:Glyburide; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester