Age-related decreases of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-induced hypotension in vivo and vasorelaxant responese in vitro in rats

摘要

CGRP is a 37 amino-acid neuropeptide and is reported to be the most potent endogenous vasodilator ever found.CGRP causes both endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxations,depending on the type of blood vessel.The endothelium-depedent vasorelaxations are known to be mediated by nitric oxide (NO) released from endothelial cells and NO-dependent elevations of both cAMP and cGMP levels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).