Synonym: somatotropin-inhibitory hormone (SIH) Somatostatin is a third hormone, besides insulin and glucagon, which is produced in the pancreas. It is a messenger substance of the human body, which mainly inhibits the digestive process. It is also considered the antagonist of 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: Once the hormone has been produced, it is stored in the cells and released when the body stimulates it, including nerve impulses.
- In a part of the interbrain (hypothalamus)
- In the D-cells of the wall of the stomach and intestine
- In nerve endings.
Effect
Somatostatin acts as an inhibitor of various hormones, such as cortisol, gastrin or secretin. Inhibition of these hormones results in a decrease in movement in the stomach and intestines, reduced secretion of digestive juices from the pancreas and inhibition of the formation of stomach acid. It is also the antagonist of the growth hormone somatotropin.
This is the origin of the name of the hormone (synonym somatotropin-inhibitory hormone (SIH), inhibiting = inhibiting). Somatostatin also inhibits the other two pancreatic horns, insulin and glucagon. Synthetically produced somatostatin is used to treat diseases such as acromegaly, where there is an excess of the growth hormone somatotropin.
