VIP gene expression in rat thymus and spleen.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide with immunomodulatory properties. In the present study, we demonstrate VIP gene expression in cells of both thymus and spleen in the rat by in situ hybridization. In thymus sections, hybridization signal for VIP mRNA was found in cells in corticomedullary and medulla regions. In the spleen, cells were labeled at the outer area on the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath of the white pulp. Hybridization signal appeared to be in lymphoid cells. These findings suggest that lymphoid cells might produce VIP, which, if released, could exert a paracrine action on central and peripheral lymphoid organs. We suggest that VIP participates in the bidirectional communication between the nervous and the immune systems.