vasoactive intestinal peptide

noun

variants or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide

: 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