<p>This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.</p> <p>The authors have determined that epineurial arterioles
of the sciatic nerve are innervated by nonadrenergic,
noncholinergic nerves that contribute to the regulation of
vasodilation. Using immunohistochemistry, the authors
determined that nerves innervating epineurial arterioles
contain the neuropeptide calcitonin gene–related peptide
(CGRP). Using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, the authors
demonstrated that CGRP content in sensory nerves
innervating epineurial arterioles and vasodilation in response
to exogenous CGRP was decreased. In summary,
epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve are innervated by
sensory nerves containing the neuropeptide CGRP. The
diabetes-like condition induced by streptozotocin reduces
the content of CGRP in these nerves and exogenous CGRPmediated
vasodilation. CGRP is likely an important regulator
of vascular tone and compromising its function could
contribute to nerve ischemia and diabetic neuropathy.</p>
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Exp Diabesity Res. 2004; 5(3):187-193