Stimulation of noradrenergic sympathetic outflow by calcitonin gene-related peptide.
Alternative splicing of RNA transcripts from the calcitonin gene produces mRNAs that encode different polypeptides. While the mRNA encoding calcitonin predominates in thyroidal 'C' cells, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) mRNA appears to be the major mRNA component in non-thyroid tissue, including brain. The predicted peptide arising from translation of CGRP mRNA has now been identified immunocytochemically throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. CGRP, a 37-residue peptide, is distributed in brain pathways subserving sensory, motor and autonomic functions. We report here that CGRP acts in the central nervous system to stimulate selectively noradrenergic sympathetic outflow.
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000235:genetics*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine