Interaction of VIPergic and cholinergic receptors in human thyroid cell.

The thyroid tissue is innervated by cholinergic and VIPergic nerves. The present study investigated the possible interactions of cholinergic agents with VIP-induced cAMP accumulation and thyroid hormone release in vitro. Carbamylcholine (Cch), acting through the muscarinic receptor increases cellular cGMP content in cultured human thyroid cells incubated with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Cch (10 microM) inhibits cellular cAMP accumulation and thyroxine (T4) release induced by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), with or without a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Cch (10 microM) inhibits 8-bromo-cAMP-induced T4 release from human thyroid slices. 8-Bromo-cGMP inhibits VIP-induced T4 release from human thyroid slices, only in cells incubated without the phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The results indicate that interactions between VIPergic and cholinergic receptors may be of importance in human thyroid cell.