Mechanisms regulating somatostatin release and somatostatin-induced acetylcholine release from the myenteric plexus

The present studies were performed to characterize the molecular form(s) of somatostatin present in the myenteric plexus and to examine some aspects of the regulatory mechanisms underlying somatostatin release and somatostatin-induced release of acetylcholine from this tissue. We observed the following: (1) Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) is present in the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig ileum with somatostatin-14 being the predominant molecular form. (2) Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity is released from isolated myenteric ganglia after stimulation with veratridine or the ganglionic agonist dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP). (3) Calcium entry via the N-type channel appears to play a dominant role in DMPP-induced release of SLI. (4) Somatostatin regulates its own release via a pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism. (5) Under basal conditions somatostatin-14 stimulates release of acetylcholine in a concentration-dependent manner. (6) Calcium entry via L-type channels is associated with the release of acetylcholine evoked by somatostatin-14.