The potentiation of sinus arrhythmia by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the anaesthetized dog

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide released from the vagus, which in contrast to acetylcholine has a long-acting positive chronotropic effect on the heart. The aim of this study, in the anaesthetized dog, was to examine the effects of VIP and a VIP antagonist when injected into the sinus node artery of a vagally intact heart in sinus arrhythmia. The response was compared to that produced by noradrenaline (NAD) infusion and stimulation of the sympathetic nerves to the heart. Mean +/- S.D. of 30 R-R intervals was used to describe mean heart rate interval and heart rate variability. VIP, a VIP antagonist, NAD and sympathetic nerve stimulation all caused increases in heart rate without significant increases in blood pressure. However, only VIP caused an increase in heart rate variability; VIP antagonism and NAD caused a decrease and sympathetic nerve stimulation had no effect. These results suggest that VIP and acetylcholine when released from the vagus act synergistically to increase sinus arrhythmia.