Contractile activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide on pulmonary tissues

Rat calcitonin gene-related peptide was shown to be a very potent contractile agent on guinea-pig trachea, contractions being observed at 10 pM and maximal contractions (32-36% of the methacholine maximum) being observed between 0.3 and 13.3 nM. The response was largely inhibited (88%) by pretreatment with indomethacin indicating that the effect was mediated through the secondary generation of cyclooxygenase products.