Calcitonin gene-related peptide: exploring its vasodilating mechanism of action in humans

What Was Tested

Researchers studied CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) in this controlled clinical trial publication.

An in vivo analysis of the contribution of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, calcium-sensitive potassium channels (K(+)(Ca) channels), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels (K(+)(ATP) channels) to CGRP-induced vasodilation in humans was performed.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 40 subjects were involved.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, both men and women.

CGRP (3, 10, and 30 ng x min(-1) x dL(-1) forearm) was infused into the brachial artery of 40 healthy subjects.

After washout, in 5 subgroups (n = 8 each), the infusions of CGRP were repeated with placebo (time-control experiments), N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, a nitric oxide-synthase inhibitor), indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor), tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC) (a K(+)(Ca)-channel blocker), and glyburide (INN, glibenclamide) (a K(+)(ATP)-channel blocker), respectively.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a placebo-controlled study.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) could be set against what happens without it.

Forearm vascular responses were measured by venous occlusion plethysmography.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Brachial Artery, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, Drug Interactions, Glyburide, Hemodynamics, Indomethacin and Infusions, Intra-Arterial.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a placebo-controlled study of CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) in 40 subjects.

Its findings take up roughly 6 sentences of the abstract and are left out here on purpose; the source paper is the place to read them.

The publication is from 2003 (Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics), a journal based in United States.

More context: the CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) compound page, all human trials.