Calcitonin gene-related peptide- and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in endothelial cells after long-term stimulation of perivascular nerves.

Since both perivascular nerves and the endothelium are involved in the control of the tone of smooth muscle in the wall of blood vessels, we decided to test whether electrical stimulation of perivascular nerves might lead to structural and immunocytochemical changes in the vascular endothelium. Long-term electrical stimulation in vivo of perivascular nerves of the rabbit central ear artery was applied. The results indicate that chronic stimulation of perivascular nerves for 10 days induced structural changes and the appearance of calcitonin gene-related peptide- and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in a subpopulation of endothelial cells.