Two distinct calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing peripheral nervous systems: distribution and quantitative differences between the iris and cerebral artery with special reference to substance P.

The present study first shows that calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)-like immunoreactive (CGRPI) nerve fibers in the cerebral arteries contained substance P (SP) and originated from small- to medium-sized CGRPI cells exhibiting SP immunoreactivity (SPI) in the trigeminal ganglion. The iris contained CGRPI/SPI-costorage nerve fibers and many CGRPI fibers lacking SPI. These fibers originated from large CGRPI cells lacking SPI in the trigeminal ganglion. The heterogenous subpopulations of CGRPI fibers in the iris suggest that CGRP is involved in a variety of functions in this structure.