Inhibition by vasoactive intestinal peptide of antigen-induced histamine release from guinea-pig minced lung

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was found to inhibit ovalbumin-induced histamine release from guinea-pig minced lung. Maximum inhibition occurred with a 10-20 min time of preincubation with VIP. Spontaneous histamine release was not altered by VIP. With 2 x 10(-6) M VIP, the dose-response curve to ovalbumin was shifted about 3-fold to the right, but the maximum histamine release was unaltered. Respiratory tract infection with parainfluenza 3 virus did not influence the inhibitory effect of VIP on histamine release.