Evidence that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) mediates neurogenic vasodilation of feline cerebral arteries.
In this study the magnitude of non-sympathetic, non-cholinergic neurogenic vasodilation of feline cerebral arteries in vitro was correlated with the extent of innervation by VIP-immunoreactive nerves. Well-innervated arteries underwent nerve-mediated relaxation whereas those that are not supplied with VIP-containing axons did not relax to transmural nerve stimulation. The relaxation of cerebral arteries that are well endowed with VIP-immunoreactive nerves was selectively and reversibly inhibited by VIP-specific antiserum. Substance P-specific antiserum did not affect the dilator responses. We conclude that VIP is a functional neurodilator transmitter in the cerebral circulation.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide