Prophylactic effect of somatostatin on stress ulcer formation in rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of somatostatin (growth-hormone release-inhibiting hormone) on ulcer formation during immobilisation stress. This was done in male Albino-rats to study the effect of somatostatin on number and size of ulcers, to calculate ulcer index, to measure pH-value of gastric juice as well as plasma levels of gastrointestinal hormones. Rats treated with somatostatin before and during stress exposition had only the third part of the ulcers compared with the untreated animals. Total ulceration area was less than the tenth of the untreated rats. Normal corticoid plasma levels during stress exposition were found in the lower range of normal values in somatostatin treated rats. Decrease of plasma gastrin during stress exposition exceeded the gastrin decrease of somatostatin treated rats. Rise of plasma glucagon was completely inhibited during somatostatin application. Results of serum glucose paralleled those seen in glucagon.