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Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) consists of 28 amino acid residues and is widespread<br />in many internal organs and systems. Its presence has also been found in the nervous structures<br />supplying the carotid body not only in mammals but also in birds and amphibians. The number<br />and distribution of VIP in the carotid body clearly depends on the animal species studied;<br />however, among all the species, this neuropeptide is present in nerve fibers around blood vessels<br />and between glomus cell clusters. It is also known that the number of nerves containing VIP located<br />in the carotid body may change under various pathological and physiological factors. The knowledge<br />concerning the functioning of VIP in the carotid body is relatively limited. It is known that VIP may<br />impact the glomus type I cells, causing changes in their spontaneous discharge, but the main impact<br />of VIP on the carotid body is probably connected with the vasodilatory eects of this peptide and its<br />influence on blood flow and oxygen delivery. This review is a concise summary of forty years of<br />research concerning the distribution of VIP in the carotid body.