Acute stimulation of ganglionic tyrosine hydroxylase activity by secretin, VIP and PHI

We have examined the ability of a number of neuropeptides to increase tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in the superior cervical ganglion in vitro. Secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) both increased TH activity, whereas angiotensin II, bombesin, bradykinin, cholecystokinin octapeptide, insulin, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, [D-Ala2, Met5]enkephalinamide, motilin, neurotensin, somatostatin, and substance P produced no effects. Secretin and VIP increased TH activity with an EC50 of 5 nM and 0.5 microM, respectively. The effects of these peptides were not altered by prior decentralization of the ganglia, by addition of hexamethonium (3 mM) and atropine (6 microM), or by lowering the concentration of calcium in the medium to 0.1 mM. Addition of carbachol (3 microM) potentiated the effects of both secretin and VIP on TH activity. Several gastrointestinal peptides with structural similarities to secretin and VIP were examined for their ability to increase TH activity. Glucagon, gastric inhibitory peptide and human pancreatic tumor growth hormone-releasing factor produced no effect at a concentration of 10 microM, while PHI increased enzyme activity.