Biomaterial Database

Calcitonin gene-related peptide causes long-term inhibition of contraction in rat thoracic aorta through a nitric oxide-dependent pathway. 1999

L F Lu, and R R Fiscus

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territory, Hong Kong, China.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is released into the circulation during pathogenesis of endotoxin and septic shock and appears to partly mediate vascular problems of shock. To explore the function of CGRP during shock, we investigated long-term action of CGRP, alone or in combination with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), another shock mediator, in isolated rings of rat thoracic aorta. CGRP or IL-1beta, by themselves, caused significant long-term (3 h) depression of contraction, while the combination of CGRP and IL-1beta had no synergistic effects. Dose-response curves to phenylephrine were significantly decreased and shifted to the right when aortic rings were incubated with 1 microM CGRP for 1 h followed by 2 h incubation without CGRP. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitors, S-methylisothiourea sulfate (SMT) and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), completely eliminated long-term depressant effect of CGRP. Our results suggest pathology of septic shock may involve long-term inhibition of vascular contraction mediated by CGRP via expression of iNOS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007375	Interleukin-1	A soluble factor produced by MONOCYTES; MACROPHAGES, and other cells which activates T-lymphocytes and potentiates their response to mitogens or antigens. Interleukin-1 is a general term refers to either of the two distinct proteins, INTERLEUKIN-1ALPHA and INTERLEUKIN-1BETA. The biological effects of IL-1 include the ability to replace macrophage requirements for T-cell activation.	IL-1,Lymphocyte-Activating Factor,Epidermal Cell Derived Thymocyte-Activating Factor,Interleukin I,Macrophage Cell Factor,T Helper Factor,Epidermal Cell Derived Thymocyte Activating Factor,Interleukin 1,Lymphocyte Activating Factor
D007550	Isothiuronium	An undecenyl THIOUREA which may have topical anti-inflammatory activity.	AHR-1911,Isothiouronium,AHR 1911,AHR1911
D008297	Male		Males
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009131	Muscle, Smooth, Vascular	The nonstriated involuntary muscle tissue of blood vessels.	Vascular Smooth Muscle,Muscle, Vascular Smooth,Muscles, Vascular Smooth,Smooth Muscle, Vascular,Smooth Muscles, Vascular,Vascular Smooth Muscles
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D010656	Phenylephrine	An alpha-1 adrenergic agonist used as a mydriatic, nasal decongestant, and cardiotonic agent.	(R)-3-Hydroxy-alpha-((methylamino)methyl)benzenemethanol,Metaoxedrin,Metasympatol,Mezaton,Neo-Synephrine,Neosynephrine,Phenylephrine Hydrochloride,Phenylephrine Tannate,Neo Synephrine,Tannate, Phenylephrine
D004347	Drug Interactions	The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug.	Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D004791	Enzyme Inhibitors	Compounds or agents that combine with an enzyme in such a manner as to prevent the normal substrate-enzyme combination and the catalytic reaction.	Enzyme Inhibitor,Inhibitor, Enzyme,Inhibitors, Enzyme
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia