Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 41, 527-532, Copyright © 1975 by Endocrine Society
The inhibitory effect of somatostatin on growth hormone, insulin and glucagon secretion in diabetes mellitus
FR Ward, H Leblanc and SS Yen
The inhibitory effect of somatostatin on insulin, glucagon and growth
hormone secretion was studied in 5 patients with diabetes mellitus. In
three maturity onset diabetics, somatostatin infusion abolished the insulin
rise induced by breakfast and oral glucose, and in 2 of them, inhibited the
basal insulin secretion by 50% seen during control studies. Concomitantly,
there was a marked and prompt reduction of glucagon levels (50%) with a
sustained effect. The plasma glucose levels were either unchanged or
slightly increased. Following the somatostatin infusion, there was a prompt
rebound increase in both insulin and glucagon levels with a relatively
stable plasma glucose concentration. In contrast, a drastic reduction of
plasma glucose in face of a relatively small fall in plasma glucagon in
response to somatostatin infusion was observed in 2 insulin-dependent
diabetics. In all patients, the episodic release of growth hormone seen
during the control day was abolished during somatostatin infusion.
