Vasodilatory effects and coexistence of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P in sensory nerves of cat dental pulp

Substance P (SP)- and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity (-IR) were localized by immunohistochemistry in the same nerve cell bodies in the trigeminal ganglia as well as in nerve terminals of the dental pulp. The distribution of SP- and CGRP-IR nerves were identical in the dental pulp and mainly associated with blood vessels. The level of CGRP-IR in the dental pulp, as measured by radio-immunoassay (RIA), was 1.4 +/- 0.2 pmol g-1 wet wt, which is in the same range as that found for substance P. Local intra-arterial infusion of synthetic CGRP and substance P produced vasodilatation in the dental pulp as measured by both laser Doppler flowmetry and an 125I clearance technique. The CGRP was effective as a vasodilator when infused in the femtomole per minute range, and SP in the picomole range. The effect of CGRP (50 fmol min-1) was 10 times larger when given after SP (15 pmol min-1) than before it. Since the two peptides coexist in the same neurons, it is suggested that they both contribute to the vasodilation seen upon antidromic stimulation of sensory nerves.

Cardiovascular effects of calcitonin gene-related peptides I and II in man

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is present in sensory nerve fibers in the heart and around peripheral arteries. On interaction with specific CGRP binding sites and activation of adenylate cyclase, CGRP causes vasodilation and has positive inotropic and chronotropic effects on the heart. In the present study, human CGRP I and II exerted positive inotropic effects on isolated human right auricles and relaxed small arteries from human skeletal muscle precontracted with norepinephrine (EC50 for CGRP I 0.59 nM and for CGRP II 0.37 nM). CGRP I and II (3.2 nmol) administered i.v. to 6 normal subjects exerted positive inotropic actions on the human heart concomitant with positive chronotropic effects, hypotension, and vasodilation. CGRP may, therefore, be of importance for cardiovascular control in man.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in capsaicin-sensitive substance P-immunoreactive sensory neurons in animals and man: distribution and release by capsaicin

The presence of calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in sensory neurons was established by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA) in combination with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). CGRP-immunoreactive (-IR) nerve fibres were present in many peripheral organs including heart, ureter, uterus and gall bladder of guinea-pig and man. The distribution of CGRP-IR nerves in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, of positive cell bodies in thoracic spinal and nodose ganglia and nerves in peripheral organs was closely related to that of substance P-LI. Double staining experiments revealed that in most cases peripheral CGRP-IR nerve terminals also contained SP-LI. However, different localization of SP- and CGRP-IR neurons was observed in the nucleus of the solitary tract as well as in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. In the heart, CGRP-IR nerves were associated with myocardial cells (mainly atria), coronary vessels, local parasympathetic ganglia as well as with the epi- and endocardia. Three to 4-fold higher levels of native CGRP-LI were observed in the atria than in the ventricles of the heart. HPLC analysis revealed that the major peak of CGRP-LI in the heart of rat and man had the same retention times as the synthetic equivalents. Systemic capsaicin pretreatment and adult guinea-pigs caused a loss of CGRP-IR terminals in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord as well as in peripheral organs including the heart. After capsaicin treatment, the content of CGRP-IR was reduced by 70% in the heart and by 60% in the dorsal part of the spinal cord. In superfusion experiments with slices from the rat spinal cord, a release of CGRP-LI was induced by 60 mM K+ and 3 microM capsaicin in a calcium-dependent manner.

Primary sensory neurons of the rat showing calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity and their relation to substance P-, somatostatin-, galanin-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- and cholecystokinin-immunoreactive ganglion cells

By use of the indirect immunofluorescence technique the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity (LI) has been analyzed in cervical and lumbar dorsal root ganglia of untreated and colchicine-treated rats. In addition, lumbar ganglia were examined 2 weeks after transection of the sciatic nerve. The occurrence of CGRP-positive cells in relation to ganglion cells containing substance P-, somatostatin-, galanin-, cholecystokinin (CCK)-, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/peptide histidine isoleucin (PHI)-LI has been evaluated on consecutive sections as well as using elution-restaining and double-staining techniques. CGRP-LI was observed in many ganglion cells of all sizes ranging in diameter from 15 microns to 65 microns. Thus, this peptide occurs also in the large primary sensory neurons. In contrast to the sensory peptides described to date, CGRP-positive cells constituted up to 50% of all and 70% of the medium-sized neurons, thus being the most frequently occurring peptide in sensory neurons so far encountered. Subpulations of CGRP-positive neurons were shown to contain substance P-, somatostatin-, or galanin-LI and some CGRP-positive neurons contained both substance P- and galanin-LI. In fact, most substance P-, somatostatin- and galanin-positive cell bodies were CGRP-immunoreactive. The coexistence analysis further revealed that galanin and substance P often coexisted and that some cells contained both substance P- and somatostatin-LI, whereas no coexistence between galanin and somatostatin has as yet been seen. VIP/PHI-LI was only shown in a few cells in untreated or colchicine-treated rats. However, after transection of the sciatic nerve numerous VIP/PHI-positive cells were observed, some of which also contained CGRP-LI. The present results indicate that a CGRP-like peptide is present in a wide range of primary sensory neurons probably not related to specific sensory modalities. Often this peptide coexists with other biologically active peptides. Taken together these findings suggest that CGRP may have a generalized function.

Identification in the human central nervous system, pituitary, and thyroid of a novel calcitonin gene-related peptide, and partial amino acid sequence in the spinal cord

Two human genes encoding precursors for two calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) I (or alpha) and II (or beta) have been identified (Steenbergh, P. H., Höppener, J. W. M., Zandberg, J., Lips, C. J. M., and Jansz, H. S. (1985) FEBS Lett. 183, 403-407). The amino acid sequence of CGRP-I was obtained in medullary thyroid carcinoma extracts (Morris, H. R., Panico, M., Etienne, T., Tippins, J., Girgis, S. I., and MacIntyre, I. (1984) Nature 308, 746-748), but not in normal human tissues. The human CGRP-II peptide remained to be discovered. Here we have determined in the human spinal cord the amino acid composition and the partial amino acid sequence of the DNA-predicted CGRP-I and -II. The data indicate for the first time the existence of a second CGRP different from the known CGRP-I. CGRP-II has been identified in the central nervous system, pituitary, thyroid, and in medullary thyroid carcinoma as a major CGRP form together with CGRP-I.

Separation of inhibitory activity from biologically active parathyroid hormone in patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type I

Patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type I have the symptoms of hypoparathyroidism despite elevated levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH). However, the circulating levels of bioactive PTH, as measured in a cytochemical bioassay, are generally within the normal range suggesting that the high levels of immunoreactive PTH are either due to the presence of biologically inactive fragments of parathyroid hormone or to the presence of an 'inhibitor' of PTH bioactivity. Gel-permeation chromatography has been used to fractionate plasma from patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type I and revealed the presence of high levels of bioactive PTH and of an 'inhibitor'. This inhibitory activity was absent or much lower in plasma from control subjects. These results indicate, therefore, that in pseudohypoparathyroidism type I the expression of the biological activity of PTH at the level of the kidney is affected by the presence of a circulating inhibitor which can be separated from intact PTH by gel-permeation chromatography.

Biosynthesis of calcitonin gene-related peptide and calcitonin by a human medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line

cDNA analyses predict that the human calcitonin gene encodes the two precursor proteins of calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The mRNAs for the putative precursors of these peptides are derived from alternative processing of the primary transcript of this gene. The 75 amino-terminal residues of each preprohormone are predicted to be identical. We have developed the TT human medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line as a model to study human calcitonin gene expression. Mature calcitonin and CGRP are major secretory products of this cell line. Extracts of TT cells radiolabeled with amino acids for 1 h contained only one peak of either immunoprecipitable calcitonin or CGRP on reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Each of these species had an Mr = 12,800 as estimated by gel filtration chromatography. The results of partial amino-terminal microsequencing of these two precursors were identical. Residues 2, 11, and 14 of each precursor were proline, and residues 7, 17, 24, 25, 26, and 29 were leucine. The unique alignment of the positions of these amino acids with the cDNA-predicted sequence for the common region of preprocalcitonin and preproCGRP suggests that the site of signal sequence cleavage occurs after residue 25 of both preprophormones. These studies represent the first identification of procalcitonin (116 amino acids) from a human cell line and of proCGRP (103 amino acids) from any tissue.

Parathyroid hormone secretion does not respond to changes of free calcium in electropermeabilized bovine parathyroid cells, but is stimulated with phorbol ester and cyclic AMP

The secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is suppressed in bovine parathyroid cells by raised extracellular [Ca2+], and 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulates the release of PTH from cells suppressed by high extracellular [Ca2+]. Extracellular and cytosolic free [Ca2+] are proportionally related in intact cells. To assess the role of cytosolic free [Ca2+] on PTH secretion, bovine parathyroid cells were rendered permeable by brief exposure to an intense electric field. PTH secretion was comparable at 40 nM, 500 nM, 5 microM, 28 microM, 0.5 mM and 2 mM [Ca2+] (release of total cellular PTH 3.7 +/- 0.5%, 3.9 +/- 0.4%, 3.4% +/- 0.3%, 3.9 +/- 0.4%, 3.1 +/- 0.3%, 3.5 +/- 0.7%, respectively), but the secretion was stimulated twofold (P less than 0.05 vs. control) in a dose and ATP dependent manner with TPA (100 nM) and cyclic AMP (1 mM). As a result, free [Ca2+] in the range of those observed in intact cells during regulation of PTH secretion by changes of extracellular [Ca2+] did not affect the release of PTH in permeabilized cells. The [Ca2+] independent stimulation of PTH release by TPA and cyclic AMP indicates that changes of cytosolic free [Ca2+] may represent a secondary event not related to the regulation of PTH secretion.

Kenny syndrome: evidence for idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in two patients and for abnormal parathyroid hormone in one

We report three unrelated patients with Kenny syndrome. Clinical symptoms included severe dwarfism, with internal cortical thickening and medullary stenosis of the tubular bones, normal bone age, macrocephaly, absent diploic space, delayed closure of the anterior fontanel, and normal intelligence; two of the patients had hyperopia and papillary edema. The patients also had episodic hypocalcemic tetany and low serum levels of magnesium. In two patients the diagnosis of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism was established on the basis of undetectable serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (N- and C-terminal RIAs); one of these had normal urinary cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response to exogenous PTH. Circulating calcitonin was undetectable in either patient. In a third patient, who had abnormal body proportions, serum levels of PTH were increased in an RIA detecting predominantly intact PTH (N-RIA) and undetectable in another RIA recognizing carboxy-terminal fragments (C-RIA). Administration of PTH promptly increased urinary cAMP excretion. In this patient, serum levels of calcitonin were increased, whereas values for 25-OHD and 1,25(OH)2D were normal.

Does cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in rat primary sensory neurons represent calcitonin gene-related peptide?

Using immunohistochemistry, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and cholecystokinin (CCK)-like immunoreactivity (LI) were found in many of the same spinal and trigeminal ganglion cells and motoneurons in the spinal cord and hypoglossal nucleus, as well as in fibers with an overlapping distribution in the spinal cord (dorsal horn, bundle ventral to the central canal) and in the spinal trigeminal nucleus. CCK-LI in all these structures disappeared after preadsorption of CCK antisera with CGRP at 10(-4) M and almost completely at 10(-5) M. CCK peptide in concentrations up to 10(-4) M, on the other hand, did not influence CGRP staining. The present findings raise the possibility that some CCK-LI in primary sensory neurons in rat may represent CGRP or a similar peptide.

Specific receptor and cardiovascular effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide

Specific binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were demonstrated in the rat heart and spleen. Autoradiography revealed rat [125I]iodo CGRP binding associated with the intima and media of the aorta, the coronary arteries and the heart valves, and the red pulp of the spleen. Half-maximal inhibition of rat [125I]iodo-CGRP binding to membranes of the rat atria and the spleen was obtained with, respectively, 5 and 0.35 nM unlabeled rat CGRP; these values correspond to EC50 values of 3 and 0.14 nM for activation of adenylate cyclase by CGRP. In the isolated, spontaneously beating right atrium, the EC50 values of stimulation of the force and rate of contraction by rat CGRP were 120 and 70 nM, respectively. Rat CGRP caused relaxation of splenic strips, precontracted with noradrenaline; the EC50 was 50 nM. The beta-adrenergic blocking agent metoprolol, while obliterating the increase in the force and rate of contraction evoked by noradrenaline in the right atrium, did not significantly change the action of CGRP. Similarly, preserved action of CGRP in the presence of indomethacin as well as mepyramine and cimetidine argues against a role of prostaglandins or histamine in the functional responses of CGRP. Much like CGRP, capsaicin, which releases mediators from sensory neurons, caused stimulation of the force and rate of contraction of the isolated right rat atrium. After tachyphylaxis to CGRP, the response to noradrenaline was intact, while the positive chronotropic and inotropic effects of capsaicin were suppressed. The results indicate that the cardiac effects of capsaicin may be due to the release of endogenous CGRP through a local mode of action.

Regulatory elements involved in Drosophila Adh gene expression are conserved in divergent species and separate elements mediate expression in different tissues

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is expressed in a complex temporal and spatial pattern from tandem promoters (proximal and distal) in Drosophila melanogaster, and from two closely linked genes (Adh-1 and Adh-2) in D. mulleri. The expression patterns of Adh-1 and the proximal promoter, and Adh-2 and the distal promoter are similar, but not identical. We show that the mulleri Adh genes are appropriately expressed when introduced into the melanogaster genome, indicating that the cis- and trans-acting elements which regulate the corresponding promoters are functionally equivalent in the two species. By analyzing the expression of in vitro generated mutants of the mulleri Adh locus, we define at least three regulatory regions of the mulleri Adh genes and show that different control elements mediate the expression of Adh in different tissues.

Suppression of parathyroid hormone inhibitory activity of plasma in pseudohypoparathyroidism type I by i.v. calcium

The biological response, as measured in the cytochemical bioassay, to the high circulating levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type I (PSPI) is affected by the presence of an endogenous inhibitor. This is evidenced by the reduced recovery of the biological activity of PTH added to the plasma. Here we have used i.v. calcium infusion to inhibit the release of PTH and studied endogenous PTH bioactivity and immunoreactivity as well as the recovery of the bioactivity of added PTH in a normal subject and two patients with PSPI. In the control subject both bioactive PTH (bioPTH) and iPTH fell in response to the increased levels of plasma calcium and the recovery of the biological activity of PTH added to the plasma remained unchanged. In the PSPI patients, although the level of iPTH fell, the level of bioPTH remained unchanged. However, the level of inhibitory activity of the plasma, as determined by the recovery of added PTH, was transiently normalized in response to the rise in plasma calcium. Thus i.v. calcium infusions not only suppress the release of endogenous iPTH but also the inhibitory activity present in the plasma of PSPI patients.

Simultaneous release of several tachykinins and calcitonin gene-related peptide from rat spinal cord slices

Superfusion of slices of the dorsal half of rat spinal cord in vitro with 10 microM capsaicin or 60 mM potassium lead to the simultaneous release of substance P (SP)-, neurokinin A (NKA)- and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivities (LI). The ratio between capsaicin-stimulated and basal release was higher for CGRP-LI than for SP-LI, indicating that relatively more CGRP is released from sensory nerves, whereas SP is not only released from afferent neurons. High-performance liquid chromatography of NKA-LI revealed several immunoreactive components. One major peak had the retention time of synthetic NKA. A second peak eluted close to the position of synthetic eledoisin. In conclusion, capsaicin releases several bioactive peptides from sensory neurons which may mediate the acute algetic effect of chemical irritants.

Stimulation of parathyroid hormone secretion by phorbol esters is associated with a decrease of cytosolic calcium

Unlike in other endocrine systems calcium inhibits parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion and this inhibition is paralleled by a rise of cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca]i). Because of evidence that diglyceride levels and protein kinase C activity are also decreased by high extracellular calcium we have investigated the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of protein kinase C, on [Ca]i and PTH secretion using dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. At 1.5 mM medium calcium TPA enhanced PTH secretion and caused reduction of [Ca]i from 639 +/- 36 nM (SE) to 335 +/- 21 nM (P less than 0.001); at 0.5 mM calcium TPA was ineffective. Moreover, TPA suppressed the rise of [Ca]i evoked by high extracellular calcium. Thus TPA presumably stimulates PTH secretion via activation of protein kinase C, and the lowering of [Ca]i may TPA presumably stimulates PTH secretion via activation of protein kinase C, and the lowering of [Ca]i may be a secondary event related to diglyceride availability.

Evaluation of the in vivo and in vitro calcium-regulating actions of noncalcitonin peptides produced via calcitonin gene expression

Recent studies of rat and human calcitonin (CT) gene expression have uncovered a diversity of secretory peptides. Here we report the results of testing two such non-CT secretory peptides for CT-like action in live rats and in cultured fetal rat long bone. One peptide, the carboxyl-terminal CT-adjacent peptide that is cosynthesized with CT, has no hypocalcemic effect and no inhibitory action on bone resorption in vitro. The other peptide, CT gene-related peptide, lowers blood calcium and inhibits bone resorption. In vitro experiments are consistent with the idea that CT gene-related peptide is acting at CT receptors in bone.

Distinct binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide and salmon calcitonin in rat central nervous system

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) binding sites have been identified in homogenates from the rat brain and spinal cord. Autoradiography with [125I]rat CGRP (rCGRP) revealed high grain density over the lateral hypothalamus, vestibular nuclei, colliculi, medial geniculate body, corpus mamillare and the molecular layer of the cerebellum which lacked binding sites for [125]salmon calcitonin (sCT). In contrast, no rCGRP labeling was seen over the anterior and dorsomedial hypothalamus which showed high sCT binding. The different regional distribution of rCGRP and sCT binding sites indicates that the structurally related peptides interact with separate receptors. The overlap between the localization of CGRP binding sites and endogenous CGRP in many regions of the central nervous system suggests that CGRP exerts unique physiological functions in the central nervous system.

Diagnostic evaluation of measurements of carboxyl-terminal flanking peptide (PDN-21) of the human calcitonin gene in human serum

Calcitonin and its carboxyl-terminal flanking peptide (PDN-21), also encoded by the calcitonin gene, were measured by RIA in unextracted serum of normal subjects and patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and surgically verified and suspected medullary thyroid carcinoma. Serum PDN-21 was detectable (greater than 0.005 ngeq/ml) in the large majority of normal subjects (92%), and the values increased significantly more in men than women (4.8- and 2.0-fold, respectively; P less than 0.01) in response to 1-min iv calcium injections. Calcitonin was detectable (greater than 0.025 ngeq/ml) in only 25% of normal subjects before iv calcium and became measurable after iv calcium in 88% of men and 41% of women. In patients with chronic hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism, PDN-21 and calcitonin were within normal limits. In normal subjects, iv pentagastrin (0.5 microgram/kg BW) did not increase PDN-21, and calcitonin remained undetectable. In 41 medullary thyroid carcinoma patients, basal PDN-21 and calcitonin levels were increased similarly, and they were stimulated in response to iv calcium or iv pentagastrin. In 5 siblings of medullary thyroid carcinoma patients, PDN-21 and calcitonin were increased in response to iv pentagastrin, and we suspect C-cell hyperplasia or medullary thyroid carcinoma. In conclusion, a diagnostically useful RIA for the measurement of PDN-21 in unextracted serum which complements calcitonin measurements has been developed.

Cardiovascular action of calcitonin gene-related peptide in humans

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been localized in cardiac nerve fibers and blood vessels from which it may be released as neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. Acute cardiovascular effects of i.v. administered CGRP have been studied in human subjects. CGRP (25.3 nmol) caused a mean maximal increase of the heart rate of 41 beats per min (P less than 0.01) and lowered arterial systolic and diastolic pressures by 26 mm Hg and 20 mm Hg, respectively (P less than 0.01) (n = 6 subjects). These effects were associated with facial flushing, and a rise of plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine of 257 pg/ml and 9 pg/ml, respectively (P less than 0.01). Administration of equimolar amounts of human calcitonin caused no cardiovascular effects except for minor facial flushing. Serum calcium was marginally lowered with both CGRP (0.2 mg/100 ml) and calcitonin (0.4 mg/100 ml) (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, CGRP (12.7 nmol) reduced the preejection period and duration of the electromechanical systole by 26 msec and 66 msec, respectively (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.01), presumably acting as positive inotropic agent. Labetalol, blocking adrenergic receptors, obliterated these inotropic effects, whereas the positive chronotropic and hypotensive actions of CGRP remained unchanged.

Structure and transcription of the Drosophila mulleri alcohol dehydrogenase genes

The D. melanogaster Adh gene is transcribed from two different promoters; a proximal (larval) promoter is active during late embryonic and larval stages, and a distal (adult) promoter is active primarily in third instar larvae and in adult flies (1). Genetic analyses suggest that several species of the mulleri subgroup (distant relatives of D. melanogaster) have two closely-linked Adh genes, Adh-1 and Adh-2, each of which expresses a different ADH protein (2). The temporal pattern of expression of Adh-1 and Adh-2 is similar to the expression of D. melanogaster Adh from the proximal and distal promoters (2,3,4). We are interested in the molecular basis for the pattern of Adh expression in the mulleri subgroup species and in the mechanism of the switch in Adh promoter utilization. For these reasons, we have studied the structure and transcription of the Adh locus of D. mulleri, a species of the mulleri subgroup. We show that the ADH-1 and ADH-2 proteins are expressed from two distinct genes separated by 2 kilobase pairs, and that Adh-1 and Adh-2 are transcribed in the expected temporal pattern. In addition, we find a pseudogene 1.2 kb upstream from Adh-2, which is transcribed in a temporal pattern similar to Adh-2.

Calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide interact with the same receptor in cultured LLC-PK1 kidney cells

Calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulate adenylate cyclase activity and plasminogen activator production in cultured renal tubular LLC-PK1 cells. Salmon [125I]calcitonin and human [125I]calcitonin gene-related peptide bound specifically to the cells. Salmon [125I]calcitonin binding was reduced at lower concentrations of non-radioactive salmon calcitonin than of human calcitonin gene-related peptide. For the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity and plasminogen activator production, the potency of salmon calcitonin was higher than that of human calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide. In a subclone of LLC-PK cells lacking salmon calcitonin binding sites, no specific binding of [125I]CGRP occurred, and adenylate cyclase activity and plasminogen activator production was not increased by the peptides. Thus, in LLC-PK1 cells the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity and plasminogen activator production by calcitonin gene-related peptide is probably mediated by the calcitonin receptor.

Suppression of parathyroid secretion after administration of WR-2721 in a patient with parathyroid carcinoma

WR-2721 is an organic thiophosphate, known as a radioprotective agent, which also inhibits parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion and reduces the plasma calcium level in euparathyroid animals and human subjects. In this study we present evidence that WR-2721 is also able to reduce an abnormal PTH secretion in a case of parathyroid carcinoma. The intravenous infusion of a single dose (750 mg/m2) of WR-2721 was followed within 3 h by a reduction in the plasma concentration of PTH by 60%, and of Ca by about 0.45 mmol/l. These changes were associated with a diminution in urinary cAMP excretion. Based on this observation it appears that WR-2721 merits further investigation as a possible agent for the medical treatment of hyperparathyroidism.

Co-existence of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivities in sensory nerves in relation to cardiovascular and bronchoconstrictor effects of capsaicin

Immunohistochemical studies showed that substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity co-exist in capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons. Varicose SP- and CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibres with a similar distribution pattern were seen in the lower airways and heart. The functional analysis revealed that CGRP caused cardiac stimulation and had, together with SP and neurokinin A, potent hypotensive effects. Vascular permeability was increased by SP and neurokinin A, and the bronchial smooth muscle was particularly sensitive to neurokinin A. Thus, multiple peptides stored in an possible released from the same nerve endings by capsaicin may exert differential effects in various target tissues.