P. G. Burhol

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and somatostatin in leucocytes

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was measured in extracts from polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear (MN) leucocytes from 14 healthy persons and 12 pigs. In addition, extracts from PMN and MN cells from eight pigs were studied for possible contents of somatostatin. Immunoreactive VIP was present in the PMN and MN leucocytes from man and pigs with a significantly higher level in the MN cells. Similarly, immunoreactive somatostatin was found in both cell lines from pigs with a significant higher amount in the MN leucocytes. Furthermore, extracts from pure populations of human PMN and MN leucocytes were separately applied on a Sephadex G-50 Fine column, and VIP, somatostatin, secretin, GIP and motilin were measured in the eluted fractions. Only VIP and somatostatin were found to be present in detectable amounts. Immunoreactive VIP eluted corresponding to the elution volume for pure porcine VIP in extracts from both PMN and MN cells, while immunoreactive somatostatin eluted corresponding to the elution volume for the synthetic tetradecapeptide somatostatin in extracts from MN cells only. Possible physiological implications of these findings are briefly discussed.

The Incidence of Ulcerative Colitis in Northern Norway from 1983 to 1986

In a 3-year prospective epidemiologic multicentre study in Northern Norway the average annual incidence of ulcerative colitis was 12.8 per 100,000. Both inpatients and outpatients were included. There was a significant sex difference in annual incidence in the health region (15.1 per 100,000 in males versus 10.4 per 100,000 in females), which was most pronounced Nordland county (16.6 per 100,000 in males versus 10.4 per 100,000 in females). The highest incidence was seen in the age group 20-29 years, with an incidence of 30.3 in men and 20.3 in women per 100,000 per year. A family history of first-degree relatives with inflammatory bowel disease was obtained in 10.1%. The pathologic changes were equally distributed among the rectum and the distal and total colon. Ulcerative colitis located to the distal colon seemed more associated with extraintestinal manifestations.

Effects of Intravenously Infused Porcine Gip on Serum Insulin, Plasma C-Peptide, and Pancreatic Polypeptide in Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes in the Fasting State

Eight fasting patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDD) and six healthy controls were given an intravenous infusion of porcine gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). During the GIP infusion mean plasma pancreatic polypeptide level increased significantly in both groups, whereas the mean serum insulin level increased in the NIDD group only, indicating a more important role for GIP in these patients than in healthy subjects.

Radioimmunoassayable plasma motilin in man. Secretagogues, insulin-induced suppression, renal removal, and plasma components.

In normal humans, significant motilin increases were found after meal ingestion, intraduodenal infusion of fat, and intraduodenal infusion of physiological HCl doses. Only a non-significant plasma motilin increase was found in response to intraduodenal infusion of cattle bile. Plasma motilin decreased significantly after an intravenous insulin injection. During routine cardiac catheterization in a group of 10 patients plasma motilin was significantly lower in the renal vein than in the femoral vein, femoral artery, right atrium, and hepatic vein, suggesting that the kidneys participate in the removal of motilin from the circulation. Fasting and oral fat-stimulated plasma motilin immunoreactivity eluted in two peaks on a Sephadex G-50 Fine column. The two peaks behaved identically with porcine motilin in dilution series.

The Incidence of Crohn's Disease in Northern Norway from 1983 to 1986

In a prospective epidemiologic multicentre study in Northern Norway, the incidence of Crohns disease was 5.8 per 100,000 per year. The highest incidence was found in the county of Nordland, located in the south, and the lowest in Finnmark, located in the north of the region (6.7 and 3.9 per 100,000 per year, respectively). Similarly, there was a lower incidence in rural than in urban areas. Crohns disease was found as frequently in the large as in the small bowel. The location in the large bowel seemed more often to be associated with extraintestinal manifestations. The male to female ratio was almost 1:1. In males a peak incidence was seen in the age group 20-29 years old, whereas no similar peak was seen in the females. Twenty-two per cent of the cases were diagnosed before the age of 20. In 13.4% of the cases a family history of inflammatory bowel disease was found.

Fasting and postprandial plasma GIP values in man measured with seven different antisera

In the present study GIP was measured with seven different antisera in fasting and postprandial plasma samples from eight healthy subjects. The mean fasting plasma GIP values ranged from 12 to 92 pmol/l, and the mean postprandial GIP values from 35 to 235 pmol/l. All seven antisera recognized three molecular forms of GIP, and none showed any appreciable crossreactivity with other gastrointestinal peptides. However, a remarkable range in crossreactivity, from 78 to 8%, with C-terminal GIP was found. The most likely explanation for the great differences in plasma GIP values measured appears to be differences in crossreactivity with human GIP.

The priming effect of glucose on the gastric inhibitory polypeptide-induced insulin release.

Six healthy subjects were given a 15-min intravenous infusion of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) in a dose of 1.0 microgram X kg-1 X h-1 at a mean blood glucose level of 4.9 mmol/l after a priming infusion with glucose. A significant insulin release was seen during the GIP infusion, an effect that could not be demonstrated without the priming glucose infusion.

The effect of duodenal infusion of bile on plasma VIP, GIP, and secretin and on duodenal bicarbonate secretion.

Nine healthy young male students were studied before, during, and after a 10-min period of duodenal infusion of 6 g dried cattle bile dissolved in 75 ml distilled water to iso-osmolarity and pH adjusted to pH 7.0. Plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and duodenal bicarbonate secretion increased significantly, whereas plasma secretin showed a late but not significant tendency to rise after the bile infusion.

Cardiovascular effects of secretin infusion in man

Secretin infusion in man causes an increase in renal blood flow. The aim of the present study was to assess further the cardiovascular effects of the hormone. Secretin was infused at a rate of 2 CU/kg X h to patients with angina pectoris and normal left ventricular function. Cardiac output increased by an average of 20%, the stroke volume increased and the total systemic resistance decreased. Systemic arterial pressure, heart rate and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were unaltered. The results are compatible with a combined inotropic and vasodilating effect of the hormone. It is concluded that secretin may have potential merits in the treatment of acute left ventricular failure.

Gut peptides in lactation

Summary. The circulating levels of prolactin (PRL), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin (SRIH), cholecystokinin (CCK), pancreatic polypeptide (PP), insulin, motilin and blood glucose were measured in nine nursing women 27–40 days after delivery to establish the possible role of some gastrointestinal regulatory peptides in human breast feeding. During the last 20 min of suckling a significant (P<0·05) increase in serum PRL was observed concomitantly with a significant decrease in plasma SRIH levels (P<0·05 at 20 min and P<0·01 at 30 min). There was a highly significant inverse correlation between mean PRL and SRIH levels during the first 30 min of breast feeding (r= ‐0·996, P<0·00l). Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) also increased significantly (P<0·01) during nursing, while there were no changes in the plasma levels of the other gastrointestinal regulatory peptides studied.