Myoelectric effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide on rabbit small intestine.

Myoelectric recording techniques were used to study the motility of rabbit ileum during infusions of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). VIP was infused intravenously at a rate of 300 pmol X kg-1 X h-1, and peripheral venous blood samples were obtained hourly for VIP assay. VIP was also infused intraluminally at a similar rate, and hourly portal vein blood samples were obtained for VIP assay. Alterations in motility were observed after both intravenous and intraluminal infusions of VIP. These alterations in motility consisted of the migrating action potential complex and repetitive bursts of action potentials. The VIP infusion rate used and the mean peripheral plasma VIP level of 267 +/- 29 pg/ml attained during intravenous VIP infusion were similar to those that induced intestinal secretion in other animal species. Portal venous VIP levels (93 +/- 21 pg/ml) were unchanged during the intraluminal infusion of VIP. These studies show that intravenous infusion of VIP causes alterations in motility of rabbit ileum. These alterations in motility with concomitant secretion of water and electrolytes may contribute to the diarrhea induced by VIP infusion. In addition, intraluminal infusion of VIP also induced alterations in myoelectric activity, which suggested that this peptide has a luminal effect as well as a hormonal effect.