Accumulated data have suggested that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and corresponding receptor (VIPR) are involved in the development of hematopoietic stem cells and liver growth. In the present study, radioimmunoassay, biomolecular interaction analysis and reverse transcriptation polymerase chain reaction were used to quantify VIP, VIPR and detect the subtype of VIPR in rat liver during development. VIP concentration of liver in fetal or neonatal rats was significantly lower than that of teens or adult rats (P<0.05). The binding capacities of VIPR in liver of immature rats were much greater than that of the adult rats (P<0.05). The tendency of change in VIP concentration was contrary to that of the binding capacity of VIPR in the liver of rats during development. VIPR-1 was expressed in rat liver in all phases of development. These results may be of benefit to the understanding of the mechanisms of liver growth and fetal liver hemopoiesis shift.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Liver ; growth & development ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of regulation of VIPhybrid, an unselective antagonist of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors (VIPR), on the formation and development of form deprivation myopia (FDM) in chick and the expression of protein and mRNA of VIP on the retina and choroids of in chicks. METHODS: Seventy-two 1-day-old yellow healthy leghorn chicks were assigned into 6 groups (12 in each group). Eyes in Group I were covered on the right as a blank control group. Eyes in GroupII were those eyes having been injected with 20 microL saline into vitreous cavity and then covered as a negative control group. Eyes in GroupIII,IV and V were injected with 20 microL VIPhybrid with low (3*10(-12) mol/L), middle (3*10(-10) mol/L) and high (3*10(-8) mol/L) dosage into vitreous cavity and then covered as experimental groups. The above groups had been continuously covered for 1 week. Eyes in Group VI were uncovered and uninjected as a normal control group. Diopter was detected using retinoscopic refraction. The eyeball axis was determined using ophthalmological ultra-A. The expression of protein and mRNA of VIP on retina-choroids-sclera were investigated by SP immunohistochemistry staining and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Form deprivation for 1 week induced high myopia eyes and elongated eyeball axis in GroupI and GroupII, and there was no difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The diopter and eyeball axis were significantly reduced in Group III, IV, and V as compared with Group I and II (P<0.01), but the diopter was higher and the eyeball axis was longer than those of Group VI. The diopter and eyeball axis had negative correlation with the concentration gradient of VIPhybrid. The expressions of protein and mRNA of VIP in Group III, IV, and V were down-regulated as compared with those of Group I and I I(P<0.01)and also down-regulated with the increase of concentration of VIPhybrid. CONCLUSION VIPhybrid can decrease the development of FDM in chicks, which may provide a new pathway for drug therapy of myopia in human beings.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Chickens ; Myopia ; etiology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology ; Retina ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The present study was aimed to investigate the changes of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and VIP receptor 1 (VIPR1) in small intestinal and hepatic tissues during macaque development. The tissue samples of small intestine, liver and blood samples from peripheral and portal vein of 4 macaques of 6-month fetus, 2-day neonate, 45-day neonate and adult were obtained after anesthetization. The concentration of VIP in blood or tissues of macaques was measured by radioimmunoassay. The distribution of VIP in small intestinal or hepatic tissues was visualized by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of VIPR1 was detected by in situ hybridization. The results showed that: (1) VIP concentration in intestinal tissue of 6-month fetus was (20.7+/-14.3) ng/mg protein, and a few VIP-positive nerve fibers first appeared in intestinal villus root and submucosal layer but not in muscle layer. The intestinal concentration of VIP increased gradually with macaque development and reached (514.8+/- 49.2) ng/mg protein in adult, significantly higher than that in 6-month fetus (P<0.01). (2) In adult animal, VIP-positive nerve fibers became thicker and gradually extended into the mucosal crypt, submucosal layer nerve, myenteric nerve plexus of annular muscle and indulge muscle, and annular muscle. Correspondingly, the expression of VIPR1 in intestine was up-regulated during development. (3) On the contrary, the levels of VIP and VIPR1 in liver were gradually decreased during development. (4) VIP concentration in small intestinal tissue was higher than that in hepatic tissue during development. The VIP level in portal vein was also significantly higher than that in peripheral blood during development. In conclusion, the levels of VIP and VIPR1 in mucosal crypt, submucosal layer nerve, myenteric nerve plexus of annular muscle and indulge muscle increase rapidly after birth. Most of VIP from intestinal tract is degraded in portal vein before entering liver, suggesting that VIP does not metabolize and decompose in liver, and that VIPR1 is only present in embryo hepatic blood vessels.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Fetus ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Macaca mulatta ; embryology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

To explore the role of intrapulmonary neuropeptides in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness, we established an animal model of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in rabbits by using ozone exposure. With the model, after test of the mechanics of respiration and bronchoalveolar lavage assay, the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the lungs were determined by radioimmunoassay, and the expression of mRNA coding receptors of these two neuropeptides was evaluated by reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the same time, the distribution of VIP receptor-1 (VIPR1) and CGRP receptor-1 (CGRPR1) in lung tissues and its time-course were examined by in situ hybridization. The results showed: (1) in ozone-stressing groups, airway resistance increased significantly and typical inflammatory pathological changes were observed in pulmonary tissue slides, including neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration, mucus exudation and bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) shedding; (2) with elongation of ozone exposure, the levels of VIP and CGRP in the lungs increased at first, reaching a peak on d 2 to 4, then decreased slowly, and CGRP peaked somewhat earlier than VIP; (3) mRNA expression of the two neuropeptide receptors in the lungs changed in a similar manner like VIP and CGRP, but the high level of mRNA expression of VIPR1 lasted longer than that of CGRPR1; and (4) in situ hybridization for neuropeptide receptors demonstrated that, in unstressed control, VIPR1 and CGRPR1 positive cells appeared in the airway epithelium, pulmonary interstitial and focal areas of airway and vascular smooth muscles. With the elongation of ozone exposure, hybridization stained deeper and the majority of positive cells were located around the vessels and bronchus except a few in the alveoli. At 8 d, only a small number of positive cells were seen in the lungs. From the results, it is concluded that ozone-stressing can induce the development of AHR, in which VIP and CGRP may play important roles. That implies, through binding to CGRPR1, CGRP stimulates an early inflammation response which contributes in cleaning up of irritants, while VIP exerts a later dampening of pulmonary inflammation response. These two neuropeptides may play sequential and complementary roles in the development of AHR.
Animals ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Ozone ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

To investigate the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) in the cochlea of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), and to assess the function of VIP and SP in the cochlea following the damage of hypertension, hearing thresholds of ABR were observed and the fixative (4% paraformaldehyde) was pumped through the circulatory system. Adult Wistar rats (3 months, n=20) served as the control group and SHRs (3 months, n=20) as the hypertension group. Bullas were taken out and cochleas were irrigated in vitro with the same fixative. The number of base turn's spiral ganglions in the sections was counted. The expression of VIP and SP were detected by SABC method and the images of the sections were analyzed. The number of base turn's spiral ganglsons in the hypertension group was significantly less than in the normal group (P<0.01). VIP and SP were expressed in the spiral ganglion cytoplasma and stria vascularis of the two groups. There were no significant difference in the expression of VIP and SP in spiral ganglion cytoplasma (P>0.05) between the two groups. However, in stria vascularis the expression of VIP in the hypertension group was higher than in the normal group (P<0.05), and no significant difference in SP was found between the two groups. It was suggested that VIP not only contributed to the regulation of the cochlea microcirculation, but also made the neurotransmitter in the pathway of the auditory system. However, SP made only the neurotransmitter in the pathway of the auditory system.
Animals ; Cochlea ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar ; Substance P ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe changes of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in each tissue of the digestive system of allergic asthma (AA) model rats.

METHODSThe pulmonary disease (AA) rat model was duplicated by 1% ovalbumin. Its effect on the pathological morphology of the six main parts of the digestive system (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum) and related regulating factors such as CCK8, CGRP, SP, and VIP were observed.

RESULTSThe pathological morphology of the lung was synchronously changed as that of the colon of model rats. But there was no obvious change in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, or rectum. Significant changes occurred in CCK8 (79 961.4 +/- 12 577.9, 48 519.5 +/- 12 240.7), CGRP (41 950.1 +/- 12 600.1, 38 059.8 +/- 11 942.4), and SP (88 243.9 +/- 32 177.2, 47 417.8 +/- 16 462.4), and VIP (20 711.4 +/- 7 334.6, 43 208.1 +/- 13 433.8) of the lung tissue and the colon tissue of model rats (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). But there was no significant change in the aforesaid substances of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and rectum (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary disease might affect the colon, inducing pathological changes of the colon tissue and changes of related regulating factors such as CCK8, CGRP, SP, and VIP. It showed no significant effect on the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and rectum.

Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Colon ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sincalide ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of neuropeptides in the nasal septum of the perennial allergic rhinitis patients, and the mechanism of the alleviation effect of nasal septum rectification to allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Forty-five patients with deviation of nasal septum (20 with allergic rhinitis and 25 without), who undergone nasal septum rectification in Changhai hospital during Jun to Dec, 2007, were included in this research. The levels of SP, VIP, CGRP of the nasal septum were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULT: In the normal controls, the SP, VIP and CGRP levels of the nasal septal cartilages were lower than that of the nasal septal bones (P<0.05), while in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients group, there were no statistical significance between the SP, VIP levels of the nasal septal cartilages and that of the nasal septal bones (P>0.05), and the CGRP level of the nasal septal cartilages was higher than that of the nasal septal bones (P<0.05). The SP, VIP levels of the nasal septal cartilages in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients group were higher than that in the normal controls (P<0.05), and there were no statistical significance between the levels of the nasal septal bones in the two groups (P>0.05). There were no statistical significance between the CGRP levels of the nasal septal cartilages in the two groups (P>0.05), neither did that of the nasal septal bones in the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The SP level of the nasal septum in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients was higher than that in the normal controls, which was more obvious in the nasal septal cartilages. The VIP level of the nasal septum in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients was higher than that in the normal controls, which was more obvious in the nasal septal cartilages. There were no statistical significance between the CGRP levels of the nasal septum in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients and the normal controls.
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Nasal Septum ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe whether vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) participated in the attack of trigeminal neuralgia, and to understand further its pathogenetic mechanism.

METHODSSixteen patients were studied. During the attacks the venous blood was sampled from both the external jugular vein and cubital fossa vein ipsilateral to the pain, and after operations the venous blood from the external jugular vein was sampled again, the external jugular vein blood of eleven normal volunteers was collected as the control. Plasma levels of VIP were determined using sensitive radioimmunoassays.

RESULTSDuring the attacks of trigeminal neuralgia the levels of VIP in the external jugular vein blood were significantly higher than that in the cubital fossa vein blood, postoperative external jugular vein blood and the external jugular vein blood of normal volunteers.

CONCLUSIONVIP indeed participates in the attack of trigeminal neuralgia in the local region, the role of VIP may be relating to enhancing the effects of substance P in local neurogenic inflammation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radioimmunoassay ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; blood ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chronic alcoholism alters the expression levels of Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and its receptor (VIPR1) in the cochlea of chronic alcoholism rats. METHOD: We measured their expression levels in 30 SD rats, in which we created models of different degrees of chronic alcoholism. We investigated the presence of the mRNA of VIP in the cochlea of chronic alcoholism rats and controls by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. We investigated the presence of proteins of VIPR1 in poisoned rats and controls by western blot. We also evaluated the local distribution of VIP cells by immunohistochemistry. RESULT: We found that the levels of VIP and VIPR1 were downregulated in the chronic alcoholism groups compared to the controls group. The differences in some expression levels were significant different between chronic alcoholism rats and control rats. Moreover, at different degrees of alcohol poisoning in rats, the contents of VIP and VIPR1 differed. Decreased levels of VIP and VIPR1 were detected in the deep chronic alcoholism group compared to the group with low-degree poisoning (P < 0.05). In spiral ganglion cell plasm the expression of VIP and VIPR1 had no significant difference in three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggest that VIP and VIPR1 play an important role in the auditory function in rats with chronic alcoholism. Chronic alcoholism may cause a peptide hormone secretion imbalance in the auditory system, eventually leading to hearing loss.
Alcoholism ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cochlea ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I ; metabolism ; Spiral Ganglion ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of repeated esophageal acid infusion on specific airway resistance (sRaw) and airway reactivity in the guinea pigs and explore the mechanism.

METHODSsRaw and airway reactivity were measured by double-chamber plethysmography in normal control group (group N), saline control group (group NS), and repeated acid irrigation group (group H). The initial measurement was used as the baseline sRaw and airway reactivity (1d1), and 2 h after the initial measurement, sRaw and airway reactivity were measured again (1d2). Similarly, such measurements were repeated on the 15th day for all the guinea pigs (15d1, 15d2) with a 2-h interval. The content of Substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in lung tissue, trachea, BALF and ganglion were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe percent change of sRaw, (15d2-1d1)/1d1 in group H was significantly higher than that in group N. The differences in the airway reactivity of the group N, group NS, and group H were not statistically significant. The SP content in the lung, trachea, ganglion and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in group H was significantly higher than those in group N. The SP content in ganglion showed a significant positive correlation to that in the trachea. No significant differences were found in the VIP content in the lung, trachea, ganglion or BALF between the groups.

CONCLUSIONRepeated esophageal acid infusion increases the airway resistance, but not the airway reactivity in normal guinea pigs. SP may be involved in development of high sRaw through the esophageal-tracheobronchial reflex.

Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Respiratory System ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Trachea ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism