Relaxation of muscle strips from the reticular groove and reticulo-omasal orifice by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

The effect of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) on muscle strips from the reticular groove, the reticulo-omasal orifice (ROO) and the omasal canal was studied. VIP caused a concentration-dependent (10(-8)-5 x 10(-7) mol/l) reduction of the acetylcholine-induced (55 x 10(-6) mol/l) contraction of the reticular groove muscle preparations from calves and adult cattle. VIP was more effective in the muscle strips from calves than in those from adult cattle. Moreover, the circular muscle strips from the reticular groove were more sensitive to VIP than the longitudinal muscle strips. VIP also induced a concentration-related (10(-8)-5 x 10(-7) mol/l) relaxation of muscle strips from the calf ROO. Furthermore, both circular and longitudinal muscle strips from the omasal canal of the calf were relaxed by VIP (10(-7)-5 x 10(-7) mol/l). The relaxing effect of VIP on the circular muscle strips from the reticular groove of the calf was not significantly affected during incubation with 5 x 10(-6) mol/l tetrodotoxin. The relaxing effect of VIP therefore seems to be mediated by VIP receptors of smooth muscle cells. These properties of VIP in conjunction with its presence in nerve fibres located in the wall of the reticular groove and ROO are consistent with a role of VIP as inhibitory transmitter in this region of the bovine stomach.