Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide in capsaicin-induced gastric submucosal arteriolar dilation.

The response of gastric submucosal arterioles to topical (submucosal) application of calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) or capsaicin with and without the human CGRP antagonist, hCGRP-(8-37), was studied using in vivo microscopy. CGRP (10(-11) to 10(-8) M) induced dose-dependent dilation. Topical treatment with hCGRP(8-37) (10(-6) M, for 10 min) caused a significant decrease in basal arteriolar diameter from 33 +/- 2 to 27 +/- 2 microns. hCGRP(8-37) did not alter acetylcholine- or adenosine-induced vasodilation but did significantly reduce CGRP 10(-8) M vasodilation from 97.3 +/- 10.1 to 15.9 +/- 4.4% of the maximal response. Topical capsaicin (10(-9) M to 5 x 10(-7) M) induced dose-dependent arteriolar dilation. This vasodilation was markedly attenuated by hCGRP(8-37). Selective ablation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons nearly completely inhibited capsaicin-induced vasodilation, suggesting that this vasodilation is primarily neurogenic in origin. We conclude that 1) topical application of capsaicin stimulates capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons and induces dose-dependent arteriolar dilation; 2) this vasodilation is mediated in part by CGRP; and 3) CGRP may be involved in modulating the basal tone of gastric resistance vessels.