Abstract

The role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in neurally mediated relaxation of guinea pig and rat intestine was examined with three putative VIP antagonists: a C-terminal sequence of VIP (VIP10-28), substituted analogs of VIP ([4-Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17]VIP) and growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) ([Ac-Tyr1, D-Phe2] GRF1-29). The three agents inhibited selectively relaxation induced by VIP and its homolog, peptide histidine isoleucine. Inhibition of VIP-induced relaxation in tenia coli and gastric fundic strips was consistent with competitive antagonism. Relaxation induced by field stimulation (80 V; 1 msec; 0.1-16 Hz) which is accompanied by a stoichiometric increase in VIP release was inhibited by the three antagonists in the following order of potency: VIP10-28 greater than VIP analog greater than GRF analog. The descending relaxation component of the peristaltic reflex induced by graded stretch of the orad end of a rat colonic segment which is also accompanied by an increase in VIP release, was inhibited by the three VIP antagonists in the same order of potency: VIP10-28 greater than VIP analog greater than GRF analog. The most potent antagonist, VIP10-28, abolished descending relaxation at the lowest grades of stretch (2 and 4 g) and inhibited relaxation at the highest grades of stretch (10 g) by 79%. The results indicate that VIP (and peptide histidine isoleucine) is the transmitter responsible for neurally induced gastric and intestinal relaxation.