In order to better understand the mechanisms underlying the reduction in growth hormone (GH) secretion in diabetic rats, we studied hypothalamic somatostatin secretion both in vivo (into hypophysial portal blood) and in vitro (from hypothalamic fragments) 5,9 and 30 days after induction of diabetes. Experimental diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 65 mg/kg. Basal plasma GH was significantly reduced in diabetic rats at all stages. Somatostatin levels in hypophysial portal blood was unaffected in 5-day STZ-diabetic rats and significantly increased 9 days after STZ administration. Chronic insulin replacement therapy in diabetic animals partly normalized somatostatin levels as well as plasma GH and glucose levels. A good correlation was observed between in vivo and in vitro experiments. Indeed, somatostatin release from hypothalamic fragments did not change 5 days after STZ-induced diabetes and significantly increased 9 and 30 days after STZ administration. The in vitro increase in hypothalamic somatostatin secretion was observed in 10 as well as in 33 mM glucose concentration in the incubation medium. In the same experiment, the in vitro hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor secretion was lowered 5 and 9 days after diabetes induction. We conclude that hypothalamic somatostatin release increases in diabetic rats. These changes may contribute to the reduction in GH secretion in these animals. However, since these changes occur after the onset of plasma GH decrease, a factor(s) other(s) than somatostatin may play a causal role in the reduction in GH secretion.

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