Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide on nicotine-induced sweating in man

The effects of two neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide on nicotine-induced sweating in human skin were investigated. Intradermal injection of nicotine induced local sweating and each peptide, administered together with nicotine, inhibited these responses in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide for threshold and half-maximum inhibition were about 10(-10) M and 10(-8) M, respectively, while those of vasoactive intestinal peptide were approximately 10(-9) M and 10(-7) M, respectively. The results suggest that calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide have inhibitory effects on the nicotinic action, and release of endogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide and/or vasoactive intestinal peptide may influence sweating in human skin under physiological conditions in vivo.