Renal microvascular actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide. Reslerova, Martina, and Rodger Loutzenhiser. Smooth Muscle Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Calgary. Department of Medicine, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
APStracts 5:0049F, 1998.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a potent vasodilator that is suggested to act via ATP-sensitive K channels (KATP). In the present study, we examined the actions of CGRP on pressure- and angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction using the in vitro perfused hydronephrotic rat kidney. Elevated pressure (from 80 to 180 mm Hg) and 0.1 nM angiotensin II elicited similar decreases in afferent diameter in this model. CGRP inhibited myogenic reactivity in a concentration-dependent manner, completely preventing pressure -induced constriction at 10 nM (95+/-10% inhibition). These effects were partially attenuated by 10 [mu]M glibenclamide (62+/-16% inhibition, p=0.025), indicating both KATP-dependent and KATP -independent actions_ of CGRP. In contrast, 10 nM CGRP inhibited angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction by only 54+/-11% and this action was not affected by glibenclamide (41+/-11%, p=0.31). CGRP also inhibited the efferent arteriolar response to angiotensin II in the absence and presence of glibenclamide. Pinacidil (1.0 [mu]M), a KATP opener also preferentially inhibited pressure- versus angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction (97+/-5% and 59+/-13% inhibition, respectively, p=0.034). We conclude that the renal vasodilatory mechanisms of CGRP are pleiotropic and involve both KATP-dependent and -independent pathways. The effectiveness of CGRP in opposing renal vasoconstriction and the role of KATP in this action appear to depend on the nature the underlying vasoconstriction. We suggest that this phenomenon reflects an inhibition of KATP activation by angiotensin II.

Received 19 November 1997; accepted in final form 18 February
1998.
APS Manuscript Number F360-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1998 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 9 March 1998