Interaction of vasoactive intestinal peptide with rat small intestinal epithelial cells after intestinal resection.

Specific binding of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and VIP-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation were studied in small intestinal epithelial cells (both of crypt and villous levels) 3, 7 and 14 d after a 60% resection of the small intestine. The affinity, but not the binding capacity, of VIP receptors decreased during the adaptive hyperplastic response. Basal cyclic AMP levels were similar in cells of both control and resected rats. Resection induced a decrease of potency, but not of efficiency, of VIP on the stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation.