Differential activities of two distinct endothelin family peptides on ileum and coronary artery.

A synthesized mouse vasoactive intestinal contractor peptide, which belongs to a novel member of the endothelin family, induced a prolonged contraction in mouse ileum as well as porcine coronary artery in vitro. Studies comparing the effects of vasoactive intestinal contractor and endothelin on different tissues revealed that the maximum ileum contraction of vasoactive intestinal contractor was much higher than that of endothelin in both guinea pig and mouse systems, but that the vasoconstriction activity of vasoactive intestinal contractor was weaker than that of endothelin in porcine artery. These results show that vasoactive intestinal contractor might be a novel gastrointestinal hormone.