title: Calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulates adenylate cyclase and relaxes intracerebral arterioles.
abstract: The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on lumen diameter and adenylate cyclase activity in isolated intracerebral arterioles were examined. CGRP produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous tone developed by the arterioles with an EC50 value of 3.9 x 10(-9) M. Calcitonin, as well as substance P, which is frequently colocalized with CGRP, had no effect on arteriolar tone. CGRP also relaxed arterioles contracted with the thromboxane mimetic, U-44619, yielding an EC50 value of 3 x 10(-9) M. The CGRP fragment, human CGRP(8-37), antagonized CGRP-induced relaxation in a noncompetitive manner. Adenylate cyclase activity in single arterioles was stimulated by CGRP, but not by substance P, in a concentration-dependent fashion. Half maximal stimulation occurred at 8 x 10(-9) M, whereas maximum stimulation (2.5-fold over basal) occurred at 10(-7) M. CGRP(8-37) inhibited CGRP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity over a concentration range of 10(-9) to 10(-5) M. The results demonstrate that CGRP stimulates adenylate cyclase activity and is a potent vasodilator of small parenchymal cerebral arterioles in vitro and may play an important role in the regulation of cerebral blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Trizna
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; D013373:Substance P; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D002116:Calcitonin; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide