Inhibition of exocrine pancreatic secretion by somatostatin in dogs.

The effect of somatostatin on the pancreatic exocrine response to different doses of exogenous stimuli and the somatostatin dose-response relationships on pancreatic secretion were studied in conscious dogs. Somatostatin caused a strong inhibition of basal or slightly stimulated pancreatic secretion but failed to inhibit the maximal responses, suggesting that somatostatin interacts with secretin or caerulein by a competitive mechanism. A higher maximal percentage of inhibition and a dose-response relationship was observed with protein outputs and enzyme concentrations. Volumes and bicarbonate outputs were also inhibited but the maximal percentage of inhibition was lower.