Gender-specific effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P on coronary blood flow in an experimental model.
BACKGROUND
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) play counter-regulatory roles in coronary flow. This study is to assess whether effects of CGRP and SP are gender-specific.


METHODS
Langendorff-perfused hearts were used to compare coronary flow rates among 119 wild-type, alpha-CGRP and SP receptor knockout mice under various perfusion pressures (20, 30, 40, 50 mmHg).


RESULTS
For mouse heart coronary flow rate, deletion of alpha-CGRP gene resulted in significant reduction for both genders at all pressures; female CGRP knockout showed 15.3% reduction (P < .01); male CGRP knockout showed 13.8% reduction (P < .01); no significant difference between male and female CGRP knockout; female SP receptor knockout showed 13.9% increase (P < .01); female SP receptor knockout had a greater percentage decrease than male (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
CGRP plays similar roles as a vasodilator in males and females. SP seems to act as a vasoconstrictor in females.
Hongbao
Ma
M
Bioengineering Department, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. hongbao@gmail.com
Yan
Yang
Y
Shen
Cherng
C
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D010477:Perfusion; D018015:Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014664:Vasodilation
D018015:Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D013373:Substance P; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide