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Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) are hypothalamic peptides sharing considerable sequence homology which are postulated to be hypophysiotrophic releasing factors. When infused into man, PACAP has no effect on anterior pituitary hormone levels, while VIP causes a significant increase in circulating prolactin concentrations. However, PACAP has recently been shown to augment the release of LH and FSH in response to LHRH in rat anterior pituitary cell culture. In order to ascertain if either peptide has a similar effect in man, PACAP and VIP were infused at 3.6 pmol/kg per min into six healthy male volunteers, and an LHRH test was performed 30 min after the infusion was commenced. Infusion of PACAP did not alter the gonadotrophin response to LHRH significantly. However, VIP augmented the release of LH significantly, both during the infusion and for 30 min thereafter, although there was no effect on FSH release. Thus VIP, but not PACAP, potentiates the release of LH after LHRH injection in man.

Original publication

DOI

10.1677/joe.0.1370529

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Endocrinol

Publication Date

06/1993

Volume

137

Pages

529 - 532

Keywords

Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone, Gonadotropins, Pituitary, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone, Male, Neoplasm Proteins, Pituitary Gland, Anterior, Stimulation, Chemical, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide