G-protein βγ subunits in vasorelaxing and anti-endothelinergic effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been proposed to relax vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) via cAMP and can promote dissociation of endothelin-1 (ET-1) from ET(A) receptors. The latter is not mimicked by other stimuli of adenylate cyclases. Therefore, we evaluated the involvement of G-protein βγ subunits (Gβγ) in the arterial effects of CGRP receptor stimulation.

Experimental approach

To test the hypothesis that instead of α subunits of G-proteins (Gαs), Gβγ mediates the effects of CGRP receptor activation, we used (i) rat isolated mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA), (ii) pharmacological modulators of cyclic nucleotides; and (iii) low molecular weight inhibitors of the functions of Gβγ, gallein and M119. To validate these tools with respec

SUBMITTER: Meens MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3415655 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature