Mechanisms of vasoactive intestinal peptide-mediated vasodilation in human skin
Wilkins BW, Chung LH, Tublitz NJ, Wong BJ, Minson CT (2004). Journal of Applied Physiology.
Summary
A physiology study in 43 healthy volunteers using intradermal microdialysis and laser-Doppler flowmetry to work out how VIP dilates skin blood vessels. Across a range of VIP concentrations, blocking nitric oxide synthase reduced the dilation at higher concentrations, blocking H1 histamine receptors reduced it, and blocking both reduced it further, while H2 blockade had no effect. The authors conclude VIP-mediated skin vasodilation involves a nitric-oxide-dependent component not explained by histamine receptors. A mechanistic study, not a treatment trial.