Effects of autonomic stimulation on the release of vasoactive intestinal peptide from the gastrointestinal tract in the calf.

1. The effects of autonomic stimulation on the release of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) from the gastrointestinal tract have been investigated in adrenalectomized claves 2-5 weeks after birth.2. Stimulation of the peripheral ends of the splanchnic nerves (10 Hz for 10 min) caused a small fall in the concentration of VIP in portal and arterial plasma, together with a rise in the concentration in intestinal lymph. None of these changes achieved statistical significance.3. The effects of stimulation of the peripheral ends of the thoracic vagi, below the heart (10 Hz for 10 min), were found to depend in part upon the integrity of the splanchnic sympathetic innervation. A substantial rise in the concentration of VIP in intestinal lymph occurred whether or not the splanchnic nerves had been cut whereas an associated rise in arterial plasma VIP was only observed in calves in which the splanchnic nerves had been sectioned.4. The rise in the concentration of VIP in intestinal lymph, in response to vagal stimulation, was unaffected by concomitant stimulation of the splanchnic nerves, although the associated rise in arterial plasma VIP concentrations was suppressed. The response was also found to be resistant to atropine.5. The minimum estimated concentration of VIP in the extracellular fluid of the gastrointestinal tract was estimated to be about 60 p-mole/l. at rest and to rise by 70-120 p-mole/l. in response to vagal stimulation.6. Intravenous infusions of VIP at a dose of 50 ng kg(-1) min(-1) (16 p-mole kg(-1) min(-1)), which raised the minimum estimated concentration of VIP in the gastro-intestinal tract to the highest range encountered during stimulation, produced no significant changes in the concentrations of glucose, insulin, pancreatic glucagon or pancreatic polypeptide in the arterial plasma.7. It is concluded that a small amount of VIP is released from the gastrointestinal tract in response to vagal stimulation. In contrast, release of VIP is unaffected by stimulation of the splanchnic nerves except in so far as the rate at which the peptide passes into the circulation is reduced by adrenergic vasoconstriction.