Pathway of nerves with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity to the major cerebral arteries of the rat.

The pathway of nerves with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity to the major cerebral arteries was studied in rats by means of the indirect immunofluorescent method. The fibers are densely distributed in the ethmoidal nerves and in the adventitia of both the external and internal ethmoidal arteries. Section of both ethmoidal nerves and external ethmoidal arteries before they enter the cranial cavity induced a marked reduction of VIP-like immunoreactive fibers in the walls of the vessels of the circle of Willis and its major branches. However, section of the external ethmoidal artery alone did not result in visible changes of the nerves around major cerebral arteries. The present study suggests that VIP-like immunoreactive fibers surrounding major cerebral arteries of the rat arise from fibers in the ethmoidal nerve showing immunoreactivity to VIP.