Inhibition of gastric acid and gastrin secretion by somatostatin in man.

Somatostatin inhibited gastric acid secretion significantly in three ZE patients, while serum gastrin was lowered only in two. A direct inhibition of pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion by somatostatin was demonstrated in three healthy volunteers and four patients with duodenal ulcer disease. Somatostatin reduced betazole-stimulated gastric acid secretion to a lesser degree. The immunohistological demonstration of somatostatin-producing cells apposite to antral G-cells suggest a physiological role of somatostatin in the regulation of gastrin secretion in man.