ENHANCED DEPRESSOR AND HYPEREMIC RESPONSES TO CALCITONIN-GENE-RELATEDPEPTIDE IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Intravenous (IV) bolus injection of calcitonin gene-related peptide (C GRP) caused a depressor response, which was significantly larger in 12 -week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in Wistar-Kyoto r ats (WKY). CGRP also caused decreases in carotid and hindquarter vascu lar resistance, the magnitude of which was larger in the carotid than the hindquarter. In both regions, the vasodilator response to CGRP was significantly larger in SHR than WKY. Plasma CGRP level was significa ntly lower in SHR than WKY. These results that depressor and vasodilat or responses to CGRP are enhanced in SHR and that decreased plasma CGR P level in SHR may contribute to the enhanced responses. (C) 1998 Else vier Science Inc.