Summary
In normal human subjects (n=6), blood flow in the common carotid artery, assessed with an ultrasonic duplex-scanning unit, was increased up to 152% of basal levels by 60-min infusions of human calcintonin gene-related peptide I (αCGRP) 80 pmol·kg−1·h−1, but it was not affected by 20 pmol·kg−1·h−1 CGRP or 88 pmol·kg1·h−1 human calcitonin.
In the superior mesenteric artery, on the other hand, blood flow was reduced by 80 pmol·kg−1·h−1 CGRP to 58% of the basal level, but not by 20 pmol·kg−1·h−1 CGRP or with 88 pmol·kg−1·h−1 calcitonin.
Blood flow in the abdominal aorta remained largely unchanged under the same conditions.
Skin blood flow, assessed by a laser Doppler unit, was increased up to 682% of the basal level by 80 pmol·kg−1·h−1 CGRP, but not by 20 pmol·kg−1·h−1 CGRP or calcitonin.
Thus CGRP increased regional blood flow to the brain and the skin at the expense of the gastrointestinal tract.
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Jäger, K., Muench, R., Seifert, H. et al. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) causes redistribution of blood flow in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 39, 491–494 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280942
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280942