Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in cerebrospinal fluid from men after long-term exposure to organic solvents

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is widely distributed within the central nervous system (CNS) and is thought to function as a neurotransmitter. VIP was measured in CSF from 14 men with psycho-organic syndrome occupationally exposed to organic solvents for 7-38 years and in CSF from 8 neurologically healthy male volunteers. The concentration of VIP in the exposed group, 28 +/- 15 (SD) pmol/l, did not significantly differ from that of controls, 38 +/- 14 pmol/l. Thus, determination of VIP in CSF appears to be of little value for detecting effects of long-term solvent exposure.