VIP stimulates ACTH release and adenylate cyclase in human ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas.
The effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on in vitro ACTH release and adenylate cyclase activity was investigated in human ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas from 4 patients with Cushing's disease and 2 patients with Nelson's syndrome. In all the tumors tested, VIP elicited a dose-dependent stimulation of hormone release from adenoma fragments (90-247% at 10-7 M VIP) and of cAMP formation in membrane preparations (75-140% at 3 X 10-6 M VIP). Therefore a role of VIP in the control of ACTH secretion in human ACTH-secreting adenomas is suggested;  a cAMP-dependent mechanism of action can also be hypothesized.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013552:Swine; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases