Prolonged suppression of insulin release by a somatostatin analog.

A somatostatin analog, [D-Ala5, D-Trp8]-somatostatin, has been found to selectively inhibit insulin and GH release in rats. The release of these hormones is inhibited by an analog dose of 5 microgram/kg in short term experiments (15 min from analog administration to blood sampling), while glucagon levels are not lowered by analog doses as high as 500 microgram/kg. The lowered insulin to glucagon ratio results in hyperglycemia. [D-Ala5, D-Trp8]Somatostatin is also long acting; a 1 mg/kg dose results in hypoinsulinemia for 2 h and hyperglycemia for 3 h.