Wharton J, Gulbenkian S
Experientia. 1987 Jul 15;43(7):821-32. doi: 10.1007/BF01945360.
Ample immunocytochemical evidence is now available demonstrating that several peptides are present in the mammalian cardiovascular system where they are localised to nerve fibres and myocardial cells. The neuropeptides (neuropeptide Y, calcitonin gene-related peptide, tachykinins and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) are localised to large secretory vesicles in subpopulations of afferent or efferent nerves supplying the heart and vasculature of several mammals, including man. Although they often exert potent pharmacological effects on the tissues in which they occur their physiological significance has still to be established. They may act directly via specific receptors and/or indirectly by influencing the release and action of other cardiovascular transmitters. In marked contrast, atrial natriuretic peptide is produced by cardiac myocytes and considered to act as a circulating hormone.
现在有大量免疫细胞化学证据表明，几种肽存在于哺乳动物心血管系统中，它们定位于神经纤维和心肌细胞。神经肽（神经肽Y、降钙素基因相关肽、速激肽和血管活性肠肽）定位于供应包括人类在内的几种哺乳动物心脏和血管的传入或传出神经亚群中的大型分泌囊泡。尽管它们通常对其所在组织发挥强大的药理作用，但其生理意义仍有待确定。它们可能通过特定受体直接起作用和/或通过影响其他心血管递质的释放和作用间接起作用。与之形成鲜明对比的是，心房利钠肽由心肌细胞产生，并被认为作为一种循环激素发挥作用。
