Abstract
Somatostatin is located predominantly in D-cells of the antral and fundic area of the stomach and in the duodenal bulb. Furthermore, somatostatin is contained in neurons of the extrinsic and intrinsic nervous system. Somatostatin inhibits gastric acid, pepsin and gastrin secretion, and it stimulates gastric mucous secretion. All in all, somatostatin could exert protection of the gastric mucosa by reduction of aggressive and augmentation of protective mechanisms. There is, however, no evidence for a role of somatostatin in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer. Endogenous opioids which have to be considered as potential peptidergic neurotransmitters increase vagal and postprandial gastric acid secretion and accordingly cannot be considered as a protective factor. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), also a peptidergic neurotransmitter, reduces acid and stimulates mucous and bicarbonate secretion. If this is of physiological relevance remains to be established. Secretin might be a protective factor for the gastric mucosa by stimulating mucous and bicarbonate secretion. On the other hand, it augments pepsin secretion which might attenuate any potential protective effects of secretin.
| Translated title of the contribution | Somatostatin and opioids, secretin and VIP--protectors of the mucosa? |
|---|---|
| Original language | German |
| Pages (from-to) | 56-63 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie |
| Volume | 25 Suppl 3 |
| State | Published - Aug 1987 |