Release of calcitonin gene-related peptide induced by capsaicin in the vascularly perfused rat stomach.

It has been suggested that capsaicin-induced gastric mucosal protection results from the local release of vasodilator peptides such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from afferent nerve endings within the stomach, since CGRP is able to reduce gastric lesion formation. This concept is supported by the present finding that capsaicin (10(-5) M), administered to the vascularly perfused stomach of the rat, produces a more than 30-fold rise of the CGRP content of the venous effluent. High-pressure liquid chromatography revealed only one peak of immunoreactivity coeluting with synthetic CGRP.