Effect of somatostatin on rat exocrine pancreatic secretory process in normal and diseased state

The effect of somatostatin on the secretory process of the rat exocrine pancreas has been studied using a combined in vivo- in vitro system. Somatostatin in a concentration of 5 x 10(-6) g/kg/h was infused alone or in combination with low (5 x 10(-7) g/kg/h) and high (5 x 10(-6) g/kg/h) doses of synthetic caerulein. All aspects of the secretory process were then studied in vitro using isolated pancreatic lobules. Somatostatin inhibits both basal and stimulated discharge of enzymes and newly synthesized proteins thus leading to increased enzyme content. The stimulatory action of low doses of caerulein is nearly totally blocked, however, the induction of an acute non-hemorrhagic interstitial pancreatitis due to supramaximal doses of caerulein is not prevented, but only reduced in its severity. Furthermore, somatostatin infusion following the induction of pancreatitis has a beneficial effect on recovery, since increase levels of pancreatic enzymes in blood are quickly reduced and cellular infiltration of the diseased pancreas is nearly prevented.