Vasoactive intestinal peptide protects guinea-pig detrusor nerves from anoxia/glucopenia injury

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was tested for its capability to protec t the intrinsic nerves of guinea-pig urinary bladder from damage due to ano xia/glucopenia and reperfusion. Guinea-pig detrusor strips were mounted for tension recording in small organ baths and the nerves were subjected to el ectric field stimulation. VIP (0.3 muM) improved significantly the response of strips to electrical field stimulation either during anoxia/glucopenia or thereafter during reperfusion, as compared to untreated tissues. The ant ioxidant activity of VIP assessed as its capability to scavenge peroxyl rad icals during linoleic acid oxidation corresponded to 6.42 +/- 0.13 pIC(50) M, i.e. close to the concentration proved to protect strips against the ano xic-glucopenic and reperfusion damage. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.