Somatostatin

[alexj8100]

I am trying to do an assignment on the endocrine system and am in need of some help. I know that the hormone somatostatin inhibits the production of insulin and glucogen in the pancreas but why is this necessary? Thank you in advance :-)

[dundurn]

Alex - look up somatostatin in wikipedia - the way I read it it's part of the basic "fight or flight" control process. It reduces insulin production but it also reduces gut motility, release of stomach contents, gut blood flow etc - all things you would want to do if you were trying to
1 maximise the effectiveness of adrenaline production and thereby raise blood glucose levels
2 reduce blood flow other than in the voluntary muscles

At a more general level this basic balancing process between adrenaline releasing glucose into the bloodstream and insulin repackaging it as glycogen must be going on continuously. Somatostatin is one link in the chain.

[alexj8100]

Thank you very much - it all makes perect sense when its explained like that! :-)