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A rich VIP nerve supply is characteristic of sphincters

Nature volume 280, pages 155–156 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

VASOACTIVE INTESTINAL PEPTIDE (VIP), isolated from extracts of porcine duodenum by Said and Mutt1, was at first thought to be a hormone2. Immunohistochemical studies have since revealed that VIP has a neuronal localisation. VIP-containing nerves occur throughout the body, being particularly frequent in the digestive tract3–7, the genitourinary tract8–10 and the upper respiratory tract11. The nerves storing VIP or other neuropeptides (substance P, somatostatin and enkephalin) apparently represent additional types of autonomie nerves, distinct from the adrenergic and cholinergic ones. A great proportion or the peptidergic nerves seems to originate in nerve cell bodies located close to or within the innervated organ5–9,11. The physiological significance of these new types of nerves is a matter of speculation, but a knowledge of their precise anatomical distribution will assist in defining their targets. We have previously observed that structures believed to exert a sphincter function receive a particularly rich supply of such nerves. We have now examined several sphincters, recognised or anticipated, and have established the presence of VIP nerves in all of them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Histology and Pharmacology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

    J. ALUMETS, J. FAHRENKRUG, R. HÅKANSON, O. SCHAFFALITZKY DE MUCKADELL, F. SUNDLER & R. UDDMAN

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    J. ALUMETS, J. FAHRENKRUG, R. HÅKANSON, O. SCHAFFALITZKY DE MUCKADELL, F. SUNDLER & R. UDDMAN

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ALUMETS, J., FAHRENKRUG, J., HÅKANSON, R. et al. A rich VIP nerve supply is characteristic of sphincters. Nature 280, 155–156 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/280155a0

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