Inhibition of gastrin-stimulated enterochromaffin-like cell proliferation and mucosal histamine production in the rat stomach by the somatostatin analogue octreotide

The effect of octreotide, a potent and long-acting analogue of somatostatin, on gastrin-stimulated proliferation and function of enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells were examined in rats. Animals were divided into four groups and each group was continuously infused with saline, octreotide alone (40 μg/kg per day), gastrin alone (60 nmol/kg per day), or octreotide (40 μg/kg per day) plus gastrin (60 nmol/kg per day) respectively for 9 days via osmotic minipumps. Gastrin induced the increase of the bromodeoxyuridine labeling index and density of oxyntic mucosal ECL cells as well as oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity. Octreotide completely abolished the gastrin-induced increases in the labeling index and density of ECL cells and oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity. These results indicate that octreotide inhibits gastrin-stimulated proliferation of ECL cells and histamine production by these cells.