The effect of passive immunization against somatostatin on marker retention time in lambs.

The effects of passive immunization against somatostatin on retention time of marker have been investigated in sheep using Cr2O3 as a marker. The mean transit time for clearance of 50% of the marker was significantly retarded in all the anti-somatostatin-treated animals by approximately 19.0 h, as compared with control lambs given a nonspecific antiserum. The findings suggest an important role for circulating somatostatin in the regulation of the rate of flow of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract in lambs. Moreover, it enhances the claim of the immunological approach as a new technique to investigate factors controlling food utilization in farm livestock.