Stimulation of insulin and glucagon secretion by vasoactive intestinal peptide

In vivo, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) produces simultaneous increases in blood glucose and insulin levels. In order to determine whether VIP, like its homologues, also stimulates insulin secretion directly, studies were made in controlled glucose media employing the vascularly perfused cat pancreas. VIP stimulated insulin secretion significantly in the presence of constant physiological concentrations of glucose. The highest insulin response to VIP (100.3+/-8.1 muU/min) approached the highest insulin response to glucose (119.9 +/- 12.0 muU/min). In the absence of glucose, the insulin response to VIP was insignificant. Unexpectedly, VIP was found to be a more effective stimulant of glucagon than of insulin secretion. The highest glucagon response to VIP (327+/-51% of control levels) was attained in the presence of physiological concentrations of glucose and equalled the glucagon response obtained upon withdrawal of glucose from the perfusate. The glucagon response to VIP was blocked by increasing the glucose in the perfusate. These studies indicate the VIP present in pancreatic islets might play a role in the local control of pancreatic endocrine function.