Effect of Somatostatin on Blood Sugar, Plasma Growth Hormone, and Glucagon Levels in Diabetic Children

Abstract

In nine children with clinically overt insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus the authors injected cyclic somatostatin (3 mug./kg. bolus, followed by infusion of 13 mug./kg. in 60 minutes) and measured blood glucose, plasma growth hormone, and glucagon concentrations throughout the infusion. The rapid administration produced no significant changes of these parameters. With the prolonged infusion there was a significant reduction of blood glucose from a mean of 148 +/- 19.7 to a mean of 88.5 +/- 18.1 mg./100 ml. (P less than 0.005) and of plasma glucagon from a basal mean of 33.3 +/- 2.4 to a minimum mean of 22.1 +/- 1.7 pg./ml. (P less than 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation between the two parameters (0.01 less than P less than 0.05). Plasma GH values also diminished during the infusion, but the reduction was not statistically significant. These results show that somatostatin lowers blood glucose concentrations as a secondary effect of inhibition of glucagon secretion. Somatostatin is not suitable for therapy in diabetes. We speculate that a similar substance with a more prolonged and specific action on glucagon might prove of practical value in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

A Semi-mechanistic Model for the Effects of a Novel Glucagon Receptor Antagonist on Glucagon and the Interaction Between Glucose, Glucagon, and Insulin Applied to Adaptive Phase II Design

“…Two approaches to reducing the effect of glucagon in diabetes have been explored in man-therapies that reduce glucagon secretion and therapies that block glucagon effects at the receptor level. Somatostatin, which inhibits secretion of both insulin and glucagon, has been demonstrated to be effective in insulin-deficient type 1 diabetic patients, supporting the concept that glucagon action is a relevant target for antihyperglycemic therapy (8).…”

Metabolic Effects of Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogue (Sandostatin) in Type I Diabetic Patients on Conventional Therapy

“…Because the hyperglycemia found in diabetic patients is partly mediated by elevated growth hormone (GH) and glucagon levels (6)(7)(8)(9), there is speculation that somatostatin, an important inhibitor of the release of both hormones, could be an ideal candidate as an adjunct to insulin therapy for patients with type I diabetes (9)(10)(11). Furthermore, elevated GH levels in diabetic patients have been postulated as an important etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of proliferate diabetic retinopathy; this, however, remains controversial (12)(13)(14)(15)(16).…”

Μεταβολες Του Πληθυσμου Των D-Κυτταρων Του Βλεννογονου Του Αντρου, Του Σωματος Του Στομαχου Και Του Παγκρεατος Μετα Απο Ωοθηκεκτομη Και Εξωγενη Χορηγηση Ορμονων Του Φυλου Σε Ινδικα Χοιριδια. Πειραματικη Ανοσοκυτταροχημικη Μελετη

“…Το αποτέ λεσμα αυτό οφείλεται κυρίως στην αναστολή της έκκρισης του γλυκογό νου από τή σωματοστατίνη 81 , 84 . Σε πάσχοντες άπα νεανικό διαβήτη ή σωματοστατίνη ελαττώνει τήν ύπεργλυκαιμία σε νηστικά άτομα 55 , 84 , βελτιώ νει τή δοκιμασία ανοχής της γλυκόζης 82 , 91 καί προάγει τή δράση τής ε ξωγενούς ινσουλίνης 83 . Σε διαβητικά άτομα, πού θεραπεύονται με σουλφονυλουρίες, ή σωματοστατίνη προκαλεί επιδείνωση τής ύπεργλυκαιμίας εξαι τίας τής αναστολής τής έκκρισης τής ινσουλίνης 190 .…”