Neuropeptides were examined for their effects on the survival of cultured rat superior cervical ganglion cells after acute deprivation of nerve growth factor (NGF). Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 3 microM) delayed the neuronal death about 6 h alone. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.2 mM) greatly potentiated its effect, reducing EC50 from 2.5 microM to 8 nM. The neuronal death was completely suppressed under this condition. On the other hand, substance P (1-100 microM) or enkephalin (1-100 microM) alone did not modify the death, whereas the latter (100 microM) enhanced the survival-promoting effect of membrane depolarization with elevated K+. These results suggest strongly that neuropeptides regulate the NGF-independent survival of sympathetic neurons through a cAMP-dependent mechanism.