title: The depressor and vasodilator effects of rutaecarpine are mediated by calcitonin gene-related peptide.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that rutaecarpine has depressor and vasodilator effects, and activates vanilloid receptors to evoke calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release. In the present study, we examined whether the depressor and vasodilator effects of rutaecarpine are related to the stimulation of endogenous CGRP release via activation of vanilloid receptors in rats. Rutaecarpine (30, 100, or 300 microg/kg, i. v.) caused a depressor effect concomitantly with an increase in the plasma concentrations of CGRP in a dose-dependent manner, and the effects of rutaecarpine were abolished by pretreatment with capsaicin (50 mg/kg, s. c.) which depletes neurotransmitters in sensory nerves. In aortic and superior mesenteric arterial rings, rutaecarpine (10 (-7)-10(-5) M) or capsaicin (3 x 10(-9)-3 x 10(-6) M) caused a concentration-dependent vasodilator response, which was significantly attenuated by capsazepine (10(-5) M), a competitive vanilloid receptor antagonist, or by CGRP-(8-37) (10(-6) M), a selective CGRP receptor antagonist. After pretreatment with capsaicin (10(-5) M) for 20 min, vasodilator responses to rutaecarpine were also markedly attenuated. Similarly, pretreatment with rutaecarpine (10(-5) M) for 20 min also attenuated vasodilator responses to capsaicin. These results suggest that the depressor and vasodilator effects of rutaecarpine are related to stimulation of endogenous CGRP release via activation of vanilloid receptors in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xiang-Ya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, P R China.
authors.forename: Chang-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Han-Wu
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yuan-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D032086:Evodia; D005638:Fruit; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011799:Quinazolines; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052999:Quinazolinones
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002211:Capsaicin; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D011799:Quinazolines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C028632:rutecarpine; D052999:Quinazolinones