INHIBITION OF GASTRIN-STIMULATED ENTEROCHROMAFFIN-LIKE CELL-PROLIFERATION AND MUCOSAL HISTAMINE PRODUCTION IN THE RAT STOMACH BY THE SOMATOSTATIN ANALOG OCTREOTIDE

The effect of octreotide, a potent and long-acting analogue of somatos tatin, on gastrin-stimulated proliferation and function of enterochrom affin-like (ECL) cells were examined in rats. Animals were divided int o four groups and each group was continuously infused with saline, oct reotide alone (40 mu g/kg per day), gastrin alone (60 nmol/kg per day) , or octreotide (40 mu g/kg per day) plus gastrin (60 nmol/kg per day) respectively for 9 days via osmotic minipumps. Gastrin induced the in crease of the bromodeoxyuridine labeling index and density of oxyntic mucosal ECL cells as well as oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase a ctivity. Octreotide completely abolished the gastrin-induced increases in the labeling index and density of ECL cells and oxyntic mucosal hi stidine decarboxylase activity. These results indicate that octreotide inhibits gastrin-stimulated proliferation of ECL cells and histamine production by these cells.