Activity of VIP, somatostatin and other peptides in the mouse vas deferens assay

Non-opiate peptides such as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin were tested for their effects on electrically induced contractions of the vas deferens. VIP(ED50 = 2.7 X 10(-8) M) and to a lesser extent somatostatin (ED50 = 5.2 X 10(-8) M) were found to be in the same general range of activity as enkephalin and the endorphins in this system. Human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) exerted a biphasic effect, inhibiting the contractions at high concentrations but enhancing them at lower concentrations. A number of other natural occurring brain peptides were ineffective at concentrations of 1 X 10(-6) M. Several somatostatin analogues were tested and their activity on the vas deferens was found to more closely parallel their potency to inhibit the release of gastric acid than of growth hormone. In contrast to the brain opiates, however, the inhibitory effects of VIP, somatostatin and its analogues, and HPP were not reversed by the opiate antagonist naloxone. The results suggest that the vas deferens can be readily used for evaluation of analogues of VIP, somatostatin, and other peptides.