Comparison of binding sites for the calcitonin gene-related peptides I and II in man.

Specific and saturable binding sites of the synthetic human calcitonin gene-related peptide-I (CGRP-I) and -II (CGRP-II) have been identified in membrane homogenates of the human central nervous system, heart and spleen. Half maximal inhibition of the binding of 125I-CGRP-II was achieved with 0.25 nM and 1.7 nM of non-radioactive CGRP-I or -II, and with 260 and 850 nM salmon calcitonin in the spinal cord and cerebellum, respectively, but 1 microM human calcitonin was not recognized. Autoradiographs of diencephalic sections revealed different distribution of 125I-CGRP-I and -II binding sites.