COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF METABOLIC AND HORMONAL RESPONSES TO SOMATOSTATIN AND PROPRANOLOL IN MAN

The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic and hormonal effects of somatostatin to those of propranolol, a β-adrenergic blocking agent known to reduce basal insulin secretion. For this purpose, 6 normal subjects received somatostatin (4 μg/min) per 60 min and 6 subjects were infused with propranolol (0.08 mg/min). Somatostatin resulted in a significant decrease of basal insulin (p<0.05) and glucagon (p<0.01) and raised plasma FFA levels from a mean basal value of 417±24 μEq/l (x±SEM) to 600±46 μEq/l at 60 min (p<0.01). Propranolol significantly decreased basal insulin (p<0.05) and glucagon (p<0.05); FFA levels rose slightly at the end of propranolol administration (p>0.05). The levels of FFA which were significantly higher (p<0.025) during somatostatin as compared to those observed during propranolol, seem to suggest a role for this tetradecapeptide in lipid metabolism independent of its inhibiting action on islet hormone release. © 1979 Casa Editrice «il Ponte».