Somatostatin--a regulatory peptide of clinical importance

Somatostatin was first discovered in the hypothalmus and has since been located in many parts of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as in the pancreas and the gastrointestinal tract. Its main biological activity is to inhibit the action of somatotropin (growth hormone, STH, GH) and a number of other hormones. The therapeutic value of somatostatin has been demonstrated in the treatment of both acute bleeding gastric ulcers and acute pancreatitis. In addition, the measurement of somatostatin in the blood is a useful method for the screening of somatostatin-producing tumours. This paper reviewed the location, action, clinical significance and measurement of somatostatin.