Using specific radioimmunoassay we tried to determine whether any neuropeptides, VIP or SP, may exist in adenoidal and palatine tonsillar tissues in human. Adenoidal tissues of 8 cases (hypertrophic adenoids of patients aged 5 to 13 years, 4 males and 4 females) and palatine tonsillar tissues of 3 cases (hypertrophic tonsils of 3 cases aged 8 to 13 years, 1 male and 2 females)were obtained by operations. In the adenoids VIP values averaged 4492±1781 pg/g w.w.t. and SP, in contrast,20±6pg/g

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... .. In the palatine tonsils VIP values averaged 3010±925pg/g w.w.t. and SP, in contrast, 13±5pg/g w.w.t.. Thus, the average of VIP level was 100-times higher than that of SP. Since VIP likely controls proliferation of lymphocyte subpopulation and SP causes so-called neurogenic inflammation, these findings suggest that neuropeptides, VIP and SP, are closely involved in the pathophysiology of inflammatory diseases in adenoids and palatine tonsils.