Concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide and neuropeptide Y in plasma increase during flushes in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), or neurokinin A (NKA) increase during hot flushes in postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms.


METHODS
Eight postmenopausal women (age range = 49-63 years) with vasomotor symptoms were included. During 1 day, repeated blood samples were taken between and during flushes; four samples were taken during each flush. The samples were analyzed for CGRP, NPY, and NKA using radioimmunoassay technique.


RESULTS
The serum concentrations of CGRP and NPY increased significantly-73% and 34%, respectively-during the flushes (p = 0.018; p = 0.028), whereas the concentrations of NKA did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
CGRP and NPY may be involved in the mechanisms that cause vasomotor symptoms.
Wyon
Y A
YA
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
Spetz
A C
AC
Theodorsson
G E
GE
Hammar
M L
ML
D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000097:blood*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D015288:Neurokinin A; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide