title: Evidence against vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as the relaxant neurotransmitter in human cavernosal smooth muscle.
abstract: 1. The putative role of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as the relaxant neurotransmitter in human cavernosal smooth muscle has been studied in isolated tissue preparations. 2. Consistent neurogenic relaxations were evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS; 2-64 pulses/train, 0.8 ms pulse duration, 10 Hz). VIP (0.1-3 microM) relaxed cavernosal smooth muscle in a dose-dependent fashion. Relaxant responses to both EFS and VIP were reduced in tissue from impotent men. 3. Neurogenic relaxant responses were not diminished in the presence of the VIP-inactivating peptidase, alpha-chymotrypsin (alpha-CT, 2 units ml-1). In contrast VIP-induced relaxations were completely abolished. 4. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by NG-nitro-L-arginine (30 microM), and of guanylate cyclase by methylene blue (50 microM) caused highly significant reductions of neurogenic relaxant responses whereas VIP-evoked relaxations were unaffected. 5. It is concluded that VIP-evoked relaxations are not mediated by the NO-guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) pathway and that VIP release is not essential for neurogenic relaxation of human cavernosal smooth muscle. VIP does not therefore act as the major relaxant neurotransmitter in this tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pickard
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zar
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019335:Nitroarginine; D010413:Penis; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D019335:Nitroarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D001120:Arginine; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D008751:Methylene Blue