Remote arteriolar dilations caused by methacholine: A role for CGRP sensory nerves?

Naris Thengchaisri, Richard J. Rivers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Remote vasodilation caused by arteriolar microapplication of acetylcholine cannot be completely attributed to passive cell-cell communication of a hyperpolarizing signal. The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether a neural component may be involved in the remote response. In the cheek pouch of anesthetized hamsters, methacholine (100 μM) was applied to the arteriole by micropipette for 5 s, and the arteriolar responses were measured at the site of application and at remote locations: 500 and 1,000 μm upstream from the application site. Superfusion with the local anesthetic bupivacaine attenuated a local dilatory response and abolished the conducted dilation response to methacholine. Localized micropipette application of bupivacaine 300 μm from the methacholine application site also attenuated the remote dilation but did not inhibit the local dilation. Blockade of neuromuscular transmission with botulinum neurotoxin A (1 U, 3 days), micropipette application of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor inhibitor CGRP-(8-37) (10 μM) 300 μM upstream from the methacholine application site, and denervation of the CGRP sensory nerve by 2 days of capsaicin treatment reduced the conducted dilation response to methacholine but did not affect the local dilatory response. Together, these data support involvement of a TTX-insensitive nerve, specifically the CGRP containing nerve, in vascular communication. Understanding the effect of regulation of a novel neural network system on the vascular network may lead to a new insight into regulation of blood flow and intraorgan blood distribution.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)H608-H613
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume289
Issue number2 58-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005

Keywords

  • Calcitonin gene-related peptide
  • Conducted vasodilation
  • Intrinsic nerves
  • Microcirculation
  • Muscarinic receptor agonist

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Remote arteriolar dilations caused by methacholine: A role for CGRP sensory nerves?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this