Calcitonin gene-related peptide is an inhibitor of aldosterone secretion

This study examined the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on aldosterone secretion both in vivo and in vitro. Intravenous administration of CGRP (0.01 micrograms/kg) in 6 conscious dogs produced a significant decrease in plasma aldosterone concentration from 68 +/- 12 pg/ml to 28 +/- 11 pg/ml (p less than 0.05) despite a mild but significant elevation of plasma renin activity. In an in vitro study using isolated rabbit adrenal glomerulosa cells CGRP reduced the basal aldosterone secretion in a dose-related manner and furthermore 10(-9) M CGRP inhibited the aldosterone secretion stimulated by 10(-8) M angiotensin II. From these results it is suggested that CGRP has an inhibitory effect on aldosterone secretion.