We have developed an in vitro and in vivo method to determine if VIP-stimulates conjunctival
goblet cell secretion in the rat as nerves which contain vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
and are most likely parasympathetic are localized around these cells. For the in vitro
method, pieces of rat conjunctiva were incubated for 1hr with no additions or increasing
concentrations of VIP (10-10-10-6m). Goblet cell secretion was measured by determining
the amount of Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA)-detectable glycoconjugates secreted into the …