Species difference in GI motor response to somatostatin

Acute experiments were performed on overnight fasted chloralose-urethan anesthetized dogs, cats, rabbits, and rats. Under these conditions, somatostatin practically abolished gastric contractions and decreased GI tonus in all species examined. The canine duodenum, jejunum, and ileum exhibited only a contractile response to somatostatin, whereas motor activities of the small intestines of the cat, rabbit, and rat were inhibited. In all instances and at all dosages, both the inhibitory and excitatory effects showed suggestions of tachyphylaxis. The data also indicate that excitatory or inhibitory effects were not dependent on the presence of long arc pathways. It is concluded that somatostatin exerts a direct stimulatory effect on the canine small intestine that is mediated by the muscularis mucosa.