The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of calcitonin gene-related peptide-induced vasodilatation of human gastroepiploic and internal mammary arteries. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (0.1-100 nmol L-1) elicited relaxations of preconstricted vessels, with a significantly greater effect in the gastroepiploic artery (P < 0.05). This effect was independent of endothelium-derived vasodilating substances. The response of the internal mammary artery but not the gastroepiploic artery to calcitonin gene-related peptide was attenuated by glybenclamide (1.0 mumol L-1) (P < 0.05). In vitro autoradiography indicated that [125I]-calcitonin gene-related peptide bound to the tunica media but not the endothelial cells in both types of artery, with a significantly higher degree of binding in the gastroepiploic artery. It is concluded that calcitonin gene-related peptide acts directly on vascular smooth muscle via specific binding sites to induce vasodilatation. In addition, KATP channels are involved in the action of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the internal mammary artery but not in the gastroepiploic artery.