title: Calcitonin gene-related peptide selectively relaxes contractile responses to endothelin-1 in rat mesenteric resistance arteries.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that endothelin-1 (ET-1) modulates sensory-motor nervous arterial relaxation by prejunctional and postjunctional mechanisms. Isolated rat mesenteric resistance arteries were investigated with immunohistochemistry, wire-myography, and pharmacological tools. ET(A)- and ET(B)-receptors could be visualized on the endothelium and smooth muscle and on periarterial fibers containing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Arterial contractile responses to ET-1 (0.25-16 nM) were not modified by blockade of ET(B)-receptors, NO-synthase, and cyclooxygenase or desensitization of transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1) with capsaicin. ET-1 reversed relaxing responses to CGRP in depolarized arteries. This effect was inhibited by ET(A)-antagonists. It was not selective because ET-1 also reversed relaxing responses to Na-nitroprusside (SNP) and because phenylephrine (PHE; 0.25-16 microM) similarly reversed relaxing responses to CGRP or SNP. Conversely, contractile responses to ET-1 were, compared with PHE, hypersensitive to the relaxing effects of the TRPV1-agonist capsaicin and to exogenous CGRP, but not to acetylcholine, forskolin, pinacidil, or SNP. In conclusion, ET-1 does not stimulate sensory-motor nervous arterial relaxation, but ET(A)-mediated arterial contractions are selectively sensitive to relaxation by the sensory neurotransmitter CGRP. This does not involve NO, cAMP, or ATP-sensitive K(+) channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Merlijn J P M T
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Meens
authors.forename: Gregorio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Fazzi
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Zandvoort
authors.forename: Jo G R
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: De Mey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000502:physiology*; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000502:physiology; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000502:physiology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide