Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulates androstenedione release in isolated perfused pig adrenals

The effect of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on adrenal androstenedione release was investigated in isolated perfused pig adrenals. Our system allowed a direct comparison with the effect of ACTH, gonadotropins and proopiomelanocortin 79-96, which has been suggested to be the specific cortical androgen stimulating hormone (CASH). VIP 10(-8) M provoked a threefold increase of androstenedione release which was similar to the effect of ACTH at a physiological concentration of 10(-10) M. Gonadotropins at a perfusate concentration of 0.5 I.U. weakly but significantly increased androstenedione output, the response amounting to 32% of that elicited by ACTH or VIP. Perfusion of the adrenals with CASH at concentrations of 10(-11) to 10(-8) M did not affect the release of adrenal androstenedione. VIP appears to be a modulator of adrenal androgen release which might be involved in a local neuroendocrine control of adrenal androgen secretion.