title: The lack of effects of somatostatin on gastric responses induced by electrical vagal stimulation.
abstract: The effects of somatostatin on ulcer formation, gastric acid secretion and histamine release were assessed during vagus nerve stimulation in rats. Direct electrical vagal stimulation significantly increased histamine release and acid output in gastric secretion but decreased mast cell counts in gastric glandular mucosa. Hemorrhagic ulceration on the gastric glandular mucosa was also observed. Somatostatin pretreatment (10 micrograms/kg) did not inhibit gastric ulcer formation, gastric acid secretion or histamine release induced by vagal stimulation. Cimetidine (an H2 blocker) pretreatment, however, significantly decreased gastric acid secretion as well as ulcer formation. The present study indicates the direct vagal stimulation increases gastric acid secretion and ulcer formation. These effects are partially histamine dependent. Somatostatin did not inhibit histamine release induced by vagal stimulation and reflects the inability of the drug to prevent ulcer formation and gastric output under these conditions in rats. However, the inhibition of basal gastric acid secretion produced by somatostatin might be useful clinically in humans.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D006636:Histamine Release; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D013004:Somatostatin; D002927:Cimetidine