The release of vasoactive intestinal peptide during altered mid-gut blood flow.

In a series of 17 dogs of which 6 were controls experiments were undertaken to measure arterial and portal vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels during reduced cephalic mesenteric artery flow states and following reperfusion of the ischaemic mid gut. The flow states examined were basal flow, 50 per cent of basal flow and 25 per cent of basal flow. Zero flow was examined for 20 min and reperfusion of the ischaemic mid gut for 20 min. Peripheral and portal VIP levels were found to be massively elevated during all the flow states studied but particularly during reperfusion of the ischaemic mid gut.