Autoradiographic localization of binding sites for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in bovine cerebral arteries.

A substantial body of published evidence indicates that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) may function as a vasodilatory neurotransmitter to cerebral blood vessels via a specific VIP receptor. In the present study in vitro autoradiography utilizing monoiodinated [125I-Tyr10]-VIP demonstrated VIP binding sites in the medial layer of bovine anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries. This observation is consistent with the VIP receptor being localized in vascular smooth muscle components.