Cytoprotection - organoprotection by somatostatin: gastric and hepatic lesions.

In rats, the hemorrhagic gastric erosions produced by ethanol, and the fatal hemorrhagic hepatic necrosis induced by phalloidin, were significantly reduced by regular somatostatin, but not by derivatives devoid of -SH containing cysteines. These effects of the hormone were abolished in animals which received, in addition, the sulfhydryl blocker n-ethylmaleimide before the toxic chemicals. Thus, somatostatin exhibits organoprotection dependent on endogenous sulfhydryls.