Increase of Pancreatic Somatostatin Concentration in Early Phases of Streptozotocin Diabetes in Rats

Abstract

A small yet significant increase of immunoassayable pancreatic somatostatin concentration (0.107±0.005 vs. 0.156±0.017μg/g at 24hr, p<0.05) was found in rats, 24hr as well as 7 days after treatment with a diabetogenic dose of streptozotocin (65mg/kg BW). These animals were characterized by marked decreases of insulin in the pancreas without any significant changes in pancreatic glucagon concentration. These results suggest that an abrupt deprivation of insulin from islets results in an elevation of pancreatic somatostatin concentration, and that glucagon in the pancreas plays a minor role in determining pancreatic somatostatin concentration in rats with insulin-deprived diabetes of short duration.