SOMATOSTATIN AND GROWTH-HORMONE IN THE IN TESTINAL POSTCOLECTOMY HIPERPLASIA IN THE RAT

Aim: Somatostatin exerts significant effects on gastrointestinal funct ion that may include mucosal growth regulation, probably through its a ction on growth hormone release. The aim of this work was to correlate somatostatin and growth hormone plasma levels and the hyperproliferat ive status of intestinal mucosa after colectomy. Experimental design: Adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control sham operated (n = 8) and large bowel resection (n = 8). Seven days post-colectomy, the animals were killed. Ileal mucosal samples were assayed for prolif erative status (morphometry, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen la beling) and blood samples for plasmatic somatostatin and growth hor-mo ne measurement. Results: A hyperproliferative status was observed with significant increases in villous length and crypt proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling. Plasma somatostatin showed a 95% significant decrease while growth hormone levels increased significantly. Conclus ion: The intestinal adaptation seen after colectomy is associated with lower somatostatin and higher growth hormone plasma level, possibly b y regulating the intestinal adaptative process.