title: Unlike VIP, the VIP-related peptides PACAP, helodermin and helospectin suppress electrically evoked contractions of rat vas deferens.
abstract: We have compared the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and of the VIP-related peptides pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) 1-27 and 1-38, helodermin, helospectin I and helospectin II, on the electrically evoked twitches in the isolated vas deferens of the rat. While VIP was virtually without effect, PACAP 1-38 suppressed the electrically evoked twitches effectively and in a concentration-dependent manner (pIC50 value 7.5). The naturally occurring N-terminal fragment PACAP 1-27 was less effective than PACAP 1-38 (Imax values 37.2% suppression compared to 76.5%) and less potent. The C-terminal fragment PACAP 16-38 was virtually inactive. Also helodermin and helospectin I+II suppressed the electrically evoked twitches effectively and in a concentration-dependent manner (pIC50 values 6.9; 7.2; 6.8, respectively). The three peptides produced similar maximum reduction of the twitches (74-80%). The findings suggest that PACAP, helodermin and helospectin suppress the electrically evoked contractions in the rat vas deferens via receptors distinct from VIP receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grundemar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Håkanson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; C040442:heliodermin; C043046:helospectin I; C043047:helospectin II