Somatostatin induces histamine secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells.

Cyclic somatostatin strongly stimulated secretion of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells. The energy, temperature and calcium dependence of this effect indicate that the action of somatostatin on the mast cells is similar to that of the classic mast cell secretagogue compound 48/80 and is to induce exocytosis.