Effect of Somatostatin on Gastrointestinal Secretions and Peptic Ulcer Production in Cats

In conscious cats with chronic gastric and pancreatic fistulas, the effect of somatostatin (GH-RIH) on gastric and pancreatic secretion and peptic ulcer formation was examined. GH-RIH infused intravenously in graded doses (range: 0.62 to 5.0 μg/kg-hr) inhibited dose-dependently gastric acid response to pentagastrin but failed to affect acid response to histamine. GH-RIH caused a marked inhibition of pepsin secretion induced by both pentagastrin and histamine and decreased pancreatic bicarbonate but not protein response to exogenous secretin or intraduodenal acid. It effectively prevented the formation of duodenal ulcers produced by prolonged administration of both pentagastrin or histamine.