What function does somatostatin play in digestion
What function does somatostatin play in digestion
The human body is designed such that it produces what it needs for its functioning and daily activities. It is also designed such it inhibits production when the supply exceeds the demand. This cycle of production and inhibition is an ongoing process without which there might be an overload of certain hormones and an absence of others. This situation isn’t uncommon and can often lead to several hormonal disorders. One important hormone in the human body is Somatostatin. Somatostatin is a hormone released by the hypothalamus. It is also secreted by the pancreas and intestinal tract. In the human body there are 2 types of Somatostatin. Depending on the length of the amino acid chains, Somatostatin is named as SS-14 and SS-28. These two types of Somatostatin are secreted by different sources. SS-14 is mainly produced by the hypothalamus and the pancreas, while the intestinal tract produces SS-28. Somatostatin is primarily known as a Growth Hormone Inhibiting Hormone and regulates the endocrine system. Its main function is to inhibit the production of several hormones in the body including insulin. Seeing as Somatostatin has so many functions in the body, what function does Somatostatin play in digestion? Somatostatin does not have a direct action in the process of digestion. But because it controls and inhibits hormones that are produced by the GI tract, it definitely has an indirect effect. The most important function that Somatostatin plays in the body is the regulation of the pancreatic hormone Insulin. Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for the intake of glucose by the body. In the absence of insulin the level of glucose in the blood can increase because the liver converts stored glycogen into glucose. Insulin is extremely important for the body if it has to utilise glucose for energy purposes. Somatostatin mainly inhibits the secretion of insulin when there is no longer the need for the hormone to be in the body. So what function does Somatostatin play in digestion? Somatostatin also has a hormone inhibitory action in the GI tract. It is secreted by scattered delta cells in the epithelium of the gastro-intestinal tract. Somatostatin decreases the production of the gastric hormones gastrin, secretin etc. Somatostatin also inhibits the secretion of gastric acids and pepsin. It also reduces the rate of gastric emptying and decreases smooth muscle movement and blood flow in the intestine. Together all these actions result in the decreased absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract. Thus Somatostatin may not have a direct role in digestion, but the answer to what function does Somatostatin play in digestion is that it plays an important function.
