Somatostatin ( growth-hormone-release inhibiting factor )

• A hormone, produced by the hypothalamus and some extraneural tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas ( search islets of Langerhans ), that inhibits growth hormone ( somatotrophin ) released by the pituitary gland.
• Both growth-hormone releasing hormone and somatostatin are controlled by complex neural mechanisms related to sleep rhythms, stress, neurotransmitters, blood glucose and exercise.
• Its inhibitory effect on gastrointestinal secretions is used to reduce flow from fistula from the pancreas or bowel to the body surface.
• Its effect on reducing abdominal blood flow is used to reduce bleeding from oesophageal varices.
• Somatostatin analogues are used to treat acromegaly, caused by over production of growth hormone, and to relieve the symptoms caused by hormone-secreting neuroendocrine tumours.
• They include lanreotide ( Somatuline ) and octreotide ( Sandostatin ).