THE EFFECT OF THE LONG-ACTING SOMATOSTATIN ANALOG OCTREOTIDE ON CERULEIN-INDUCED PANCREATIC INJURIES IN RATS

The efficacy of long acting somatostatin analogue, octreotide acetate (SMS 201-995) on the caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis and on the r egeneration of the gland was examined. The effect of the drug on the a cute injury was examined at 6 and 24 hours following the intervention, while the regeneration was examined on Day 3 and Day 5 in all cases b y determination of plasma amylase levels and by analysis of the pancre atic tissue. The use of octreotide could not counteract the occurence of acute pancreatitis, however, it has some benefit as seen by it's ab ility to moderate the increases of serum amylase levels. During the ex amination of pancreatic regeneration it was found that the weight of t he pancreas decreased and this was not affected by octreotide. As a ma tter of fact, the octreotide coadministered with caerulein counteracte d the caerulein-induced increase of pancreatic DNA content and therefo re acted against the reactive pancreatic hyperplasia. Thus long term a dministration of octreotide in acute pancreatic injury may not be rati onal.