Autoradiographic characterization and localization of vasoactive intestinal peptide binding sites in albino rat and rabbit eyes.

Localization and pharmacological properties of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) binding sites were investigated in eyes from albino rabbits and rats using an in vitro autoradiographic method. [125I]VIP was used as ligand, and various unlabelled peptides were studied to test the specificity of binding. Autoradiograms were generated by apposing 20-microns-thick cryostat eye sections to [3H]Hyperfilm or autoradiographic emulsion and quantified by means of image analysis procedures. Specific binding represented about 85% of total binding. Kinetic studies showed that equilibrium was reached after a 120-min incubation at room temperature. Biochemical investigations demonstrated that [125I-]VIP bound to a population of sites with high affinity (Kd = 2.27 +/- 0.25 nM). Inhibition of [125I]VIP binding with VIP and related peptides indicated the following rank order of potency: VIP greater than Peptide histidine isoleucine greater than secretin greater than human growth hormone-releasing factor, glucagon, VIP1-14, VIP14-28. In both species, specific binding was found in conjunctiva, iris, ciliary processes, choroid and retina. Moderate grain densities of VIP binding sites were also present in the rat cornea. Quantitative analysis of the autoradiograms revealed that the highest densities of [125I]VIP binding sites were located in the iris and ciliary epithelia in rabbits and in the inner retina in rats. Our findings suggest that VIP may play an important role in several ocular functions, especially in aqueous humor dynamics and retinal neuromodulation.