Synthesis and biological actions of prosomatostatin.

The recently isolated 28-residue sequence of prosomatostatin, a putative somatostatin precursor from pig hypothalamus and intestine, was synthesized by solid-phase methodology, characterized, and tested in rats for its effects on the release of insulin, glucagon, growth hormone, and prolactin. The synthetic product strongly suppressed plasma levels of insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone, and it appeared to be more active in the pancreas than in the pituitary. It inhibited insulin release about 5 times more effectively than somatostatin on a weight basis. The prohormone also suppressed growth hormone and prolactin levels in vitro. A time-course experiment for the effect of prosomatostatin on growth hormone release in vivo showed a significant suppression of plasma growth hormone for at least 90 min.