Comparison of somatostatin distribution in pancreatic duct ligated rats and streptozotocin diabetic rats.

The somatostatin content in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract was examined in normal, streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic and pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) rats. The somatostatin content in the pancreas and gastric antrum in the STZ-diabetic group showed a higher concentration compared with those in the normal control group (p less than 0.001). The somatostatin content in the duodenum in the PDL group showed a higher concentration compared with those in the sham-operated group (p less than 0.02). There was no significant increase in the lower gastrointestinal tract in the normal, STZ and PDL groups. These facts suggest that the concentration of somatostatin varies according to tissues and organs and that the distribution of somatostatin in chronic pancreatic injury caused by PDL is different from that in diabetes mellitus cases or controls.