Effect of hypophysectomy and growth hormone administration on somatostatin and gastrin content in the stomach of rats.

The effect of hypophysectomy and bovine growth hormone (GH) administration on somatostatin (SRIF) content as well as gastrin content in the rat stomach was investigated. SRIF content was determined by a specific radioimmunoassay. The total SRIF content in the stomach had decreased 4 weeks after hypophysectomy but was restored significantly in those rats which were subjected to bovine GH administration for 7 days after hypophysectomy. Furthermore, in control rats, an increase in SRIF content in the stomach was observed after 7 days of GH administration. Similar changes in total content of gastrin were observed after hypophysectomy and bovine GH administration, although these changes were not significant. These results indicate that GH may influence gastric function through changes in SRIF and gastrin content in the stomach.