title: The cardioprotective effects of nitroglycerin-induced preconditioning are mediated by calcitonin gene-related peptide.
abstract: Previous investigations have shown that endogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) may play an important role in the mediation of ischemic preconditioning and that nitroglycerin evokes the release of CGRP. In the present study, we examined whether nitroglycerin provides a preconditioning stimulus, and whether the cardioprotective effects of nitroglycerin-induced preconditioning involve endogenous CGRP. Thirty minutes of global ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion caused a significant impairment of cardiac contractile function and an increased release of creatine kinase. Pretreatment with nitroglycerin at the concentration of 3x10(-7) or 10(-6) M for 5 min produced a significant improvement of cardiac function and a decrease in the release of creatine kinase. The content of CGRP-like immunoreactivity in coronary effluent was increased during nitroglycerin perfusion. However, the cardioprotection afforded by nitroglycerin was abolished by CGRP-(8-37) (10(-7) M), a selective CGRP receptor antagonist. Pretreatment with capsaicin (50 mg/kg, s.c.), which specifically depletes the transmitter content of sensory nerves, also abolished the protective effects of nitroglycerin and markedly reduced the release of CGRP from the heart during nitroglycerin perfusion. These findings suggest that nitroglycerin-induced preconditioning is related to stimulation of CGRP release in rat hearts.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Hunan Medical University, Changsha, China.
authors: C P
authors: CP
authors: Hu
authors: Y J
authors: YJ
authors: Li
authors: H W
authors: HW
authors: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019157:Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C058636:calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37); D003402:Creatine Kinase; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002211:Capsaicin