Somatostatin and its analogue (D-Trp8,D-Cys14)-somatostatin do not modify intestinal absorption in vivo of carbohydrates in hamster intestine, but they do modify some disaccharidases

Somatostatin is a widely distributed hormone localized in the central nervous system, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. We have investigated the possible influence of somatostatin and a synthetic analogue, (D-Trp8,D-Cys14)-somatostatin, on the intestinal absorption 'in vivo' of D(+)-glucose and D(+)-galactose and also the effect on disaccharidase intestinal activities in hamster. Somatostatin, or its analogue, (12 micrograms/100 g body wt) was administered intraperitoneally 4 or 14 h prior to experiments. The results are compared to control Animals. Animals treated with somatostatin and the synthetic analogue showed that there were no significant difference from control Animals with respect to intestinal absorption of carbohydrates. Somatostatin produced inhibition of brush-border lactase activity in females only, whereas brush-border sucrase was increased 14 h after treatment in males and females, and brush-border maltase was inhibited in females only 4 h after hormone administration.