The demonstration of vasodilator activity of pancreatic amylin amide in the rabbit.

Amylin amide, a 37-amino acid peptide that is a major component of amyloid deposits in the diabetic pancreas, possesses vasodilator activity. Human synthetic amylin amide (30 to 300 pmol/site) stimulated a dose-dependent increase in blood flow after intradermal injection in rabbit skin. Amylin amide was 100 times less active than the structurally related potent vasodilator neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide. Amylin amide did not induce edema formation; however, as a consequence of its vasodilator activity, amylin amide potentiated edema formation induced in rabbit skin by bradykinin. The intravenous injection of amylin amide (10 nmol) caused a systemic drop in blood pressure. This study demonstrates that amylin amide elicits vasodilator responses in vivo. It is possible that the release of amylin amide from the pancreas in type II diabetes could lead to changes in vascular tone.