The neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide histidine isoleucine and neuropeptide Y modulate [3H]noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerves in the choroid plexus.

The neurotransmitter peptides vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) are located in nerve fibers supplying the pig choroid plexus, which receives an abundant sympathetic innervation. We characterized the release of [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA) from this tissue elicited by electrical field stimulation and studied the effects of the above-mentioned peptides on this release. The release of [3H]NA was found to be almost exclusively of neurogenic origin, despite there being a marked non-neuronal uptake of [3H]NA into the epithelium of the choroid plexus. NPY significantly decreased the release of [3H]NA by approximately 10% while VIP and PHI enhanced release by up to 25 and 35%, respectively, indicating a possible synergistic role of the two latter peptides and NA in the choroid plexus.