title: Effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the neuroeffector mechanism of sympathetic nerve terminals in rat vas deferens.
abstract: In order to evaluate the mode of action of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the neuroeffector mechanism of peripheral sympathetic nerve fibers, the effects of CGRP were tested on the electrical stimulated and the non-stimulated preparations of the isolated rat vas deferens. The contractile responses, which were mediated predominantly by activation of postganglionic noradrenergic nerve fibers, were dose-dependently inhibited by CGRP in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 nM. The inhibitory response produced by CGRP in high concentrations (greater than 2 nM) usually returned to the control level at 20-30 min and were rarely tachyphylactic. The inhibitory action of CGRP was not modified by pretreatment with 10(-7) M propranolol or 10(-7) M atropine. Contractions produced by exogenous norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in unstimulated preparations were not affected by pretreatment with CGRP in a low concentration (less than 2 nM). On the other hand, the contractions were slightly reduced 1 min after pretreatment with CGRP in high concentrations (greater than 5 nM), which recovered in 15 min after constant flow washout. High concentrations of CGRP also caused a concentration-dependent relaxation on the precontracted preparations produced by high potassium (60 mM K+) solution. These results suggest that CGRP in high concentrations (greater than 5 nM) may have a non-specific inhibitory action on the postsynaptic plasma membrane of the smooth muscle cell and a postulated CGRP receptor exists presynaptically in the rat vas deferens and that CGRP may inhibit the release of NE during adrenergic nerve stimulation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009451:Neuroeffector Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D011188:Potassium; D009638:Norepinephrine