title: Arterial dilations in response to calcitonin gene-related peptide involve activation of K+ channels.
abstract: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37-amino-acid peptide produced by alternative processing of messenger RNA from the calcitonin gene. CGRP is one of the most potent vasodilators known. It occurs in and is released from perivascular nerves and has been detected in the blood stream, suggesting that it is important in the control of blood flow. The mechanism by which it dilates arteries is not known. Here, we report that arterial dilations in response to CGRP are partially reversed by blockers of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP)), glibenclamide and barium. We also show that CGRP hyperpolarizes arterial smooth muscle and that blockers of K(ATP) channels reverse this hyperpolarization. Finally, we show that CGRP opens single K+ channels in patches on single smooth muscle cells from the same arteries. We propose that activation of K(ATP) channels underlies a substantial part of the relaxation produced by CGRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brayden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hescheler
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Standen
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D001464:Barium; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005905:Glyburide