Clinical pharmacology of vasodilator peptides

Abstract

Several neuropeptides cause mild flushing when infused intravenously in humans. However, only calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasointestinal peptide, and substance P (SP) cause reproducible falls in blood pressure when infused into normal subjects. Of these, CGRP is of the most interest because it is the most potent and because it is present in vascular nerve endings. This paper summarises the evidence to date suggesting that CGRP release from vascular nerve endings may be of physiological importance in the regulation of blood pressure.