title: Mediation of prolonged increases in nasal mucosal blood flow by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).
abstract: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a vasoactive and smooth muscle contractile neuropeptide, which is released during human nasal allergic reactions. Mean values for nasal blood flow (NBF), quantified in each nostril by a laser Doppler technique, varied no more than +/- 25% of a mean initial reading in normal human subjects over 4 hr in a controlled environment. Intranasal administration of multiple doses of CGRP to 17 normal subjects stimulated significant mean increases in NBF at 30-1000 ng of CGRP, with maximal mean rises of 86-130% after 100 and 300 ng of CGRP. Delivery of incremental doses of CGRP every 30 min for 2 hr evoked repetitive responses without tachyphylaxis. A single vasoactive dose of CGRP, which achieved nasal fluid concentrations similar to those elicited by antigen challenge, elicited the sensation of nasal obstruction in most subjects at 1 hr and for up to 4 hr after CGRP, without elevating nasal fluid concentrations of histamine. CGRP thus is a potent histamine-independent mediator of allergic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco 94143-0724.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Rangi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sample
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Serwonska
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lenahan
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Goetzl
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000503:physiopathology; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide