The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulates insulin-like growth factor I production by primary fetal rat osteoblasts

Bone. 1996 Apr;18(4):331-5. doi: 10.1016/8756-3282(96)00017-8.

Abstract

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive sensory nerve terminals infiltrate all tissues including bone, in which CGRP may play a local regulatory role. To initiate studies on the role of this neuropeptide in bone, osteoblasts were isolated from fetal rat calvariae, treated with CGRP, and analyzed for cAMP and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) production. CGRP alpha and -beta induced a cAMP accumulation in osteoblastic cells, suggesting that they express functional receptors for CGRP. CGRP induced an increase in both IGF-I transcripts and immunoreactive polypeptide. In contrast to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) treatment, this increase was not accompanied by an augmentation in IGF binding proteins. Although PGE2 induced a more significant increase in IGF-I transcripts than did CGRP, the concentration of IGF-I polypeptide produced by osteoblasts was similar in response to both treatments. It is concluded from this study that CGRP has potent anabolic effects on osteoblasts, an observation which opens possibilities to study the potential therapeutic role of CGRP in osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Western
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / pharmacology
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Dinoprostone / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Female
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / biosynthesis*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / genetics
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism*
  • Parietal Bone / cytology
  • Parietal Bone / embryology
  • Pregnancy
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / pharmacology
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Dinoprostone
  • 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine