STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF SOMATOSTATIN ACTION ON INSULIN RELEASE

Abstract

In man, 3 .mu.g/kg 90 min-1 of linear somatostatin significantly inhibited basal and arginine-induced insulin and glucagon release. One .mu.g/kg 90 min-1 of somatostatin significantly inhibited basal insulin release but not basal glucagon release or arginine-induced insulin and glucagon release. In the perfused rat pancreas 1 ng/ml of perfusate of somatostatin significantly inhibited arginine induced insulin but not glucagon release, while 10 ng/ml of somatostatin reduced by more than 50% the effect of arginine on insulin and glucagon release. Linear somatostatin seemed to be a slightly more potent inhibitor of insulin than of glucagon release in man and in the perfused rat pancreas.