This effect is carried out also by adrenomedullin, a closely related peptide of the family, and spreads to involve astrocytes, when cocultured with microglia [157]. In vivo, CGRP has been applied intrathecally (in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid) during the induction phase of the experimental autoimmune encephalopathy, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. The gene discussed is CALCA; the disease is multiple sclerosis.