Cytoprotection-organoprotection by somatostatin: gastric and hepatic lesions

Abstract

In rats, the hemorrhagic gastric erosions produced by ethanol, and the fatal hemorrhagic hepatic recrosis induced by phalloidin, were significanlty reduced by regular somatostatin, but not by derivatives devoid of-SH containing cysteines. These effects of the hormone were abolished in animals which received, in a dditiion, the sulfhydryl blocker nethylmaleimide before the toxic chemicals. Thus, somatostain exhibits organoprotection dependent on endogenous sulfhydryls.