Do the ependymal cells contain vasoactive intestinal polypeptide?

Immunoreaction for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the ependymal cells was investigated using two different commercially available polyclonal antisera for VIP. Immunostaining with an anti-VIP serum showed strong reaction products in the ependymal cells of the central canal and the third ventricle, in addition to immunoreactive neuronal elements in the spinal cord and in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Staining of the ependymal cells was not reduced by preabsorption of the antiserum with synthetic VIP, while the immunoreactive neuronal elements disappeared. Such staining of the ependymal cells was not found using other antiserum.