Human pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin in chronic renal failure.

Human pancreatic polypeptide is the only hormone so far reported which clearly suppresses somatostatin release, suggesting that this peptide may have a role in controlling somatostatin secretion from the gut and pancreas. In this study endogenous high circulating human pancreatic polypeptide concentrations in patients with chronic renal failure do not decrease somatostatin circulating levels. The reduced clearance rate of somatostatin in chronic renal failure may partially account for the normal circulating levels of somatostatin observed in our patients with respect to controls. Renal insufficiency may, itself, induce an increase in some gastrointestinal peptides capable of stimulating somatostatin secretion.