vasoactive intestinal peptide
noun
variants:
or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
Medical Definition of vasoactive intestinal peptide
: a protein hormone that consists of a chain of 28 amino acid residues, was first isolated from the gut of the pig, has been implicated as a neurotransmitter, and has a wide range of physiological activities (as stimulation of secretion by the pancreas and small intestine, vasodilation, and inhibition of gastric juice production)
—abbreviation VIP