Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and peptide histidine-isoleucine (PHI) receptors and the signaling pathways to which they are coupled were characterized in dispersed gastric smooth muscle cells. Radioligand binding using 125I-labeled VIP and PHI identified 4 classes of receptors: VIP-preferring and PHI-preferring receptors recognized by both ligands and readily desensitized by the preferred ligand, and VIP-specific and PHI-specific receptors recognized by only 1 ligand and resistant to desensitization. All except VIP-specific receptors were coupled to adenylate cyclase. VIP-specific receptors mediated a G protein-coupled Ca2+ influx that led to activation of NO synthase (NOS), NO-dependent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, and activation of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) kinase resulting in muscle relaxation. The entire cascade was blocked by Ca2+ channel and/or calmodulin antagonists. The NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine abolished L-[3H]citrulline (coproduct of NO synthesis) and cGMP generation and partly inhibited (52 +/- 4%) relaxation. The components of response mediated by VIP-specific receptors (increase in [Ca2+]i, L-[3H]citrulline, and cGMP) were preserved after desensitization. Insertion of guanosine 5'-O-(beta-thio)diphosphate into reversibly permeabilized muscle cells abolished responses mediated by VIP-preferring and VIP-specific receptors. VIP stimulated both adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-kinase and cGMP-kinase activities consistent with stimulation of cAMP and cGMP. Both kinases contributed to relaxation that was partly inhibited by cAMP-kinase [H-89 and (R)-p-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate] and cGMP-kinase (KT-5823) inhibitors and abolished by a combination of the 2 types of inhibitors. We conclude that VIP-specific receptors mediate a G protein-coupled Ca2+ influx leading to activation of a constitutive Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent NOS and generation of NO, which is partly responsible for relaxation in smooth muscle.