Effect of catecholamines on somatostatin secretion by isolated perfused rat stomach

The secretion of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SRIF-LI) by the isolated perfused rat stomach was studied in response to stimulation by catecholamines. Gastric SRIF-LI secretion was significantly stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by norepinephrine at 10(-6) and 10(-8) M, and the effect of norepinephrine (10(-8) M) was attenuated by the addition of propranolol (10(-6) M) but not of phentolamine (10(-6) M). SRIF-LI secretion was also stimulated by dopamine at concentrations of 10(-4) and 10(-6) M but not at 10(-8) M. The effect of dopamine (10(-6) M) was not altered by the addition of haloperidol (10(-4) to 10(-7)) or metoclopramide (10(-4) M), and bromocriptine (10(-6) M) was without effect on SRIF-LI secretion. These results suggest that gastric SRIF-LI secretion is stimulated by a beta-adrenergic mechanism and raise the possibility that gastric somatostatin contributes to the inhibitory effect of norepinephrine on gastric acid secretion.