Somatostatin

Synonym: somatotropin-inhibitory hormone (SIH)

In addition to insulin and glucagon, somatostatin is a third hormone that is produced in the pancreas (pancreas) will be produced. It is a messenger substance of the human body, which mainly inhibits the digestive process. It is also considered an antagonist to numerous other hormones in the body.

education

Somatostatin is produced in the D cells of the pancreas and released during digestion.

However, it is also produced in many other places in the body:

• in part of the diencephalon (hypothalamus)
• in the D cells of the wall of the stomach and intestines
• in nerve endings.

After the hormone has been formed, it is stored in the cells and released when the body is stimulated, for example nerve impulses.

You can also read about this: Functions of the pancreas

effect

Somatostatin acts as an inhibitor for various hormones such as cortisol, gastrin and secretin. The inhibition of these hormones leads to a decrease in movements in the stomach and intestines, a reduced secretion of digestive juices from the pancreas and an inhibition of the formation of gastric acid.

In addition, it is the antagonist of the growth hormone somatotropin. This is where the name of the hormone (synonym somatotropin-inhibitory hormone (SIH), inhibiting). Somatostatin also inhibits the other two pancreatic hormones, insulin and glucagon.

Synthetically produced somatostatin is used, among other things, to treat diseases such as acromegaly, in which there is an excess of the growth hormone somatotropin.