ABSTRACT
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), o n e o f th e m o s t p o te n t v aso d ila to rs know n today, has been show n to be released from perivascular sensory neurons du ring a m igraine attack. Thus, it is possible tha t CGRP m ay be involved in the pathophysi o logy o f m ig ra in e (See G o ad sb y e t al, Edvinsson et al, this vo lum e).1,2 We have in the present study used a range o f different techniques in order to show the presence o f a CGRPi receptor in hum an cranial arter ies, and to investigate its role. Specifically, the aims were to characterize the vasodila to r effect o f hum an (h) aCGRP, to d em on strate the presence o f m RNA encoding a proposed CGRPi receptor (CRLR; see ref. 3 and Legon, Aiyar et al, th is volum e) in the hum an cranial circulation, to show haC G R P binding sites on cranial arteries and to study the effect o f haC G R P on adenylyl cyclase activity in hum an cranial arteries.
