PEPTIDES, no.3, pp.437-444, 2003 (SCI-Expanded)
We investigated the ability of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the interface between the peripheral circulation and central nervous system (CNS). VIP labeled with I-131 (I-VIP) and injected intravenously into mice was taken up by brain as determined by multiple-time regression analysis. Excess unlabeled VIP was unable to impede the entry of I-VIP, indicating that passage is by nonsaturable transmembrane diffusion. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed the radioactivity entering the brain to be intact I-VIP. After intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection, I-VIP was sequestered by brain, slowing its efflux from the CNS. In summary, VIP crosses the BBB unidirectionally from blood to brain by transmembrane diffusion. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.