Somatotropin release inhibiting hormone, also known as somatostatin, is a peptide hormone that is naturally produced in various regions of the body, particularly in the hypothalamus and pancreas. It is responsible for regulating the release of somatotropin or growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary gland.
As a hypothalamic hormone, somatotropin release inhibiting hormone acts on the pituitary gland to suppress the release of growth hormone, consequently inhibiting its effects on various target tissues. This hormone helps maintain a balanced growth hormone production by exerting a negative feedback loop on the pituitary gland.
The release of somatotropin release inhibiting hormone is often stimulated by factors such as elevated levels of growth hormone itself, high blood glucose levels, and certain neurotransmitters. In turn, the released hormone acts on specific receptors on the pituitary gland, where it decreases the synthesis and secretion of growth hormone.
Somatotropin release inhibiting hormone also has various other functions in the body, including inhibiting the release of other hormones such as insulin, glucagon, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and several gastrointestinal hormones. It also plays a role in regulating gastrointestinal motility, inhibiting gastric acid secretion, and reducing blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract.
Furthermore, somatotropin release inhibiting hormone has been used clinically in the treatment of various medical conditions such as acromegaly (excess growth hormone production) and certain types of tumors that overproduce growth hormone. Pharmaceutical analogs of somatotropin release inhibiting hormone have been developed for therapeutic purposes, including the management of growth disorders and prevention of excessive growth hormone release.
