J Rhinol.  2001 May;8(1, 2):40-45.

Mucin Secretion by Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Nitric Oxide in the Ferret Airway

• Kim JS

Abstract

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) are important neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of bronchial tone and pulmonary blood tone. Published studies of the effects of VIP on airway mucus secretion have yielded conflicting results and the effects of VIP in airway mucus secretion still remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether VIP and NO stimulate or inhibit mucus secretion in the ferret trachea and to investigate the interaction between VIP and NO on airway mucus secretion. We used a sandwich enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) to measure mucin secretion and a turbidimetric assay to measure lysozyme secretion from isolated ferret tracheal segments. VIP stimulated mucin secretion in a dose-dependent fashion. At all concentrations tested, neither N-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) nor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP)(NO donor) had any significant effect on basal and VIP-induced mucus secretion. We conclude that VIP stimulates mucin and lysozyme secretion, and NO does not play as a stimulator or inhibitor in mucus secretion in the ferret trachea.

Keyword

Enzyme linked lectin assay; Lysozyme; Mucus

MeSH Terms

Ferrets*
Mucins*
Mucus
Muramidase
Neurotransmitter Agents
Nitric Oxide*
Trachea
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide*
Mucins
Muramidase
Neurotransmitter Agents
Nitric Oxide
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide