Effects of neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal peptide on human venous smooth muscle in vivo

The direct and noradrenaline-modulating effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on venous smooth muscle were studied in healthy volunteers employing the dorsal hand vein compliance technique. Local infusions of NPY had no measurable effect on venous tone, but coinfusion of a constant high dose of NPY (242 pmol/min) with noradrenaline caused a 2.9-fold increase in the mean ED₅₀ for noradrenaline. The dilating effect of VIP on preconstricted hand veins was weak, maximal venodilation could not be achieved, because systemic side effects occurred at submaximally venodilating doses. Coinfusion of noradrenaline with a weakly venodilating, constant dose of VIP (93.2 pmol/min) caused a 0.5-fold decrease in the sensitivity for noradrenaline. Although functional interactions between NPY or VIP and noradrenaline could be demonstrated, the dosages of the peptides required were high. Thus our results indicate that neither NPY nor VIP exert a major direct or noradrenaline-modulating effect on human veins.Correspondence to: H. G. Eichler at the above address