Age-related changes in vasoactive intestinal polypeptide levels and distribution in the rat lung.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels and distribution were studied in the lung of young-adult (3-month-old) and aged (28-month-old) male Wistar rats by radioimmunoassay and immunofluorescence. VIP concentrations were reduced approximately by 60% as the animal ages. The density of VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibres was remarkably reduced within bronchial smooth muscle and bronchial glands. Moreover, the number of VIP-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies located in intraparenchymal ganglia was decreased in old rats. The density of VIP-containing perivascular plexuses was slightly reduced in senescence. The present data are indicative that VIP neuronal system is impaired in the lung of old rats. In view of the significant age-dependent loss of VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibres that supply the bronchial tree and bronchial glands it cannot be excluded that the relaxant action exerted by peptide on airway smooth muscle and the control of bronchial secretion exerted by VIP are impaired in old age.