VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide)-containing nerves of intracranial arteries in mammals.

Immunohistochemical and radioimmunochemical investigations have shown, in various species, the occurrence of numerous nerve fibres containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in connection with blood vessels of the central nervous system. Pial arteries from pig, cat, and rat have the richest supply of VIP nerve fibres; those of cow, dog guinea pig and hamster have an intermediary number of nerves, while only few are found in pial arteries from the monkey, rabbit, gerbil, and mouse. The regional variation in VIP-nerve density follows the order: cerebral arteries greater than basilar greater than vertebral greater than spinal cord arteries. Unilateral extirpation of either the pterygopalatine or the superior cervical ganglia does not affect the amount or distribution of VIP fibres in the wall of brain vessels of the ipsilateral side. Measurement of the VIP content by radioimmunoassay shows mean concentrations in the pial arteries varying between 19 and 82 pmol/g tissue wet weight. Regional and species variations in measured VIP levels are similar to the variations in distribution of immunoreactive nerve fibres.