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VIP occurs in intrathyroidal nerves and stimulates thyroid hormone secretion

Nature volume 287, pages 343–345 (1980)Cite this article

Abstract

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is known to have powerful effects on the secretion from several endocrine and exocrine glands1–3, and occurs in nerves with a ubiquitous distribution in the body4,5. This infers that neuronal VIP may be a regulator of such secretion, and there is evidence that it is involved in the regulation of exocrine pancreatic function3. Previous studies have shown that adrenergic and cholinergic nerves participate in the regulation of thyroid hormone secretion6–9. We describe here combined immunohistochemical and immunochemical studies which show that the thyroid of several species is supplied with VIP-containing nerve fibres that surround blood vessels and run between and along thyroid follicles and that in the mouse neuronal VIP participates in the regulation of thyroid hormone secretion through a mechanism that is mediated by cyclic AMP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pharmacology, Medicine, Surgery, Clinical Pharmacology and Histology, University of Lund, Sweden

    B. Ahrén, J. Alumets, M. Ericsson, J. Fahrenkrug, L. Fahrenkrug, R. Håkanson, P. Hedner, I. Lorén, A. Melander, C. Rerup & F. Sundler

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    B. Ahrén, J. Alumets, M. Ericsson, J. Fahrenkrug, L. Fahrenkrug, R. Håkanson, P. Hedner, I. Lorén, A. Melander, C. Rerup & F. Sundler

  3. Department of Surgery A, Frederiksborg County Hospital, Denmark

    B. Ahrén, J. Alumets, M. Ericsson, J. Fahrenkrug, L. Fahrenkrug, R. Håkanson, P. Hedner, I. Lorén, A. Melander, C. Rerup & F. Sundler

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  1. B. Ahrén
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Ahrén, B., Alumets, J., Ericsson, M. et al. VIP occurs in intrathyroidal nerves and stimulates thyroid hormone secretion. Nature 287, 343–345 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/287343a0

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