title: Somatostatin: a potent inhibitor of ACTH-hypersecretion in adrenal insufficiency.
abstract: Somatostatin (250 mug as a bolus i.v. and 250 mug as a 1-hr infusion) was administered to 5 patients with adrenal insufficiency of different origin. In each patient a sustained, progressive fall in plasma ACTH was observed during the infusion period. The mean maximal reduction in plasma ACTH was 43.8 +/- 5.9%. After cessation of the somatostatin infusion there was a rise of plasma ACTH to starting levels within 1/2 hour. These findings suggest that somatostatin is a potent inhibitor of ACTH secretion, however, only in a condition in which glucocorticoids are lacking.
mesh_terms: D000224:Addison Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013004:Somatostatin