Abstract
The presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) binding sites and the adenylate cyclase activity in response to VIP were examined in the human term placenta. Slices were used in order to preserve the physicochemical environment and the structural integrity of this heterogeneous organ. 125I-VIP binding to placental slices was saturable. The steady state was reached after 90 min at 37°C and was maintained up to 3 h. Unlabeled VIP was able to compete in a dose-dependent manner with an IC 50 value of 5.2 ± 1.3 × 10 −10 M. Autoradiography and histological analysis showed that VIP binding sites were essentially located on fetal vascularization, especially arteries of stem villi. VIP produced a stimulatory effect on cAMP synthesis at a concentration as low as 10 −10 M. The dose-response curve was monophasic with an ED 50 value of 2.9 ± 1.6 × 10 −9 M. The specificity of the VIP effect was tested with peptides structurally related to VIP such as glucagon, secretin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide and human growth-hormone releasing factor. Only secretin at high concentrations (> 10 −6 M) increased cAMP production. Leu-enkephalin or insulin were ineffective. The presence of both VIP binding sites on fetal vascularization and VIP-induced adenylate cyclase activation would seem to suggest a regulatory role of the peptide on fetoplacental blood flow.
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