Effects of the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide on abomasal function and plasma level of insulin and glucagon in sheep.

The effects of the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide were studied in sheep. Octreotide was given subcutaneously at a dose of 0.75 microgram/kg bodyweight and, as a control, 0.9% saline solution was injected in a change-over design. Octreotide inhibited abomasal acid secretion and retarded the turnover time of digesta through the abomasum. The plasma levels of insulin and glucagon decreased due to the octreotide injection, while the plasma glucose level was not affected. The effects of octreotide lasted for 3-4h. There were no significant effects of the saline injection. The effects of octreotide showed similarities with results from previous studies on monogastric species.