Studies of the microvascular effects of adrenomedullin and related peptides

Adrenomedullin (ADM) exerts potent vasoactive effects in the microvasculature. These activities have been most extensively studied in the cutaneous microcirculation. In this review we examine the knowledge gained to date of the ability of ADM to influence microvascular effects that include increased blood flow, microvascular permeability (leading to edema formation), neutrophil accumulation and cutaneous thermal hyperalgesia. ADM is structurally related to the vasodilator neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The peptides are considered to act via a family of receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPS) that interact with a G-protein linked receptor, calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR). A correlation of microvascular activity with effects mediated via CRLR and RAMP is discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.