Studies on the inhibition of pancreatic secretion by luminal somatostatin.

The effects of somatostatin, instilled into the duodenum or administered intravenously, on pancreatic response to endogenous (meal and duodenal acidification) or exogenous (secretin and caerulein) stimulants were compared in five dogs with gastric and pancreatic fistulas. Somatostatin, whether applied topically to the duodenal mucosa or given intravenously, resulted in qualitatively similar inhibition of pancreatic secretion of water, bicarbonate, and enzyme protein, being about four to eight times less potent after intraduodenal than after intravenous administration. A meal-induced secretion appears to be the most sensitive to the inhibitory action of intraduodenal somatostatin, probably because of the suppression of gastric acid and serum gastrin secretin involved in the postprandial stimulation of the exocrine pancreas. The inhibition of pancreatic secretion by luminal somatostatin was accompanied by a significant increase of plasma levels of the immunoreactive somatostatin, indicating that this peptide can be absorbed intact across the intestinal mucosa. We conclude that somatostatin administered into the gut lumen is absorbed into the circulation and can inhibit pancreatic secretion both by the suppression of the release of gastrointestinal hormones and by direct inhibitory action on the exocrine pancreas.