VIP binding to epithelial cell membranes of rat ventral prostate: effect of guanine nucleotides.

Specific binding of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to epithelial cell membranes of rat ventral prostate was reversible, saturable and dependent on time and temperature. The data suggested the presence of two classes of VIP receptors: a class with high affinity (Kd = 1.7 nM) and low binding capacity (0.5 pmol VIP/mg protein), and another class with low affinity (Kd = 36.2 nM) and high binding capacity (7.5 pmol VIP/mg protein). Chicken VIP and porcine secretin recognized VIP receptors but exhibited a 10-fold higher and a 40-fold lower affinity than porcine VIP, respectively. However, glucagon, somatostatin, Met-enkephalin and cholecystokinin were ineffective. GTP inhibited markedly the interaction of VIP with membranes by increasing the rate of dissociation of peptide bound to its receptors. GDP and Gpp(NH)p behaved as GTP but other purine nucleotides and nucleosides did not show any effect.