Since 1973 several studies have shown an inhibition by somatostatin on the release of thyroid-stimulating honnone (TSH), growth hormone, insulin, glucagon and gastrin (Anon. 1974). However, only sparse infonnation is available concerning the influence of somatostatin on the thyroid gland (Birk, Meyer, Rothenbuchner, Raptis, Loos, Adam and Pfeiffer 1976). Moreover, in 1975 conflicting results concerning the influence of somatostatin on hemostasis have been published (Besser, Kang 1975, Koerker, Harker and Goodner 1975, Mielke, Gerich, Lorenzi, Tsalikian, Rodvien and Forsham 1975. We have studied the effect of somatostatin on TSH induced trüodothyronine (T 3) release and on platelet function in normal man. Materials and MethodsThe subjects were 27 healthy volunteers without any signs of endocrine disorders (6 women and 21 men, aged 18-32 years). Informed consent was obtained from each subjecL Bovine TSH (Thyrotropin, Ferring) 7.5 mU/kg body weight was given as an Lv. bolus at 0 min. In 7 subjects somatostatin (a gift from Dr. J . Mulder, Ferring AB, Malmö, Sweden) 200 lJg was given as an Lv. bolus 30 minutes before the TSH injection and followed by a constant infusion of 1200 lJg until 150 minutes after the TSH injection. 20 subjects received saline only. Venous blood was drawn without compression at -30, 0, 60, 90,120, 150, 180 and 240 min. Serum T 3 (Kirkegaard, Friis and Siersbaek-Nielsen 1974) and serum insulin (Deckert, Lauridsen, Madsen and Deckert 1972) were estimated by radioimmunoassays. In 4 subjects the hemostatic function was evaluated half an hour before and 5 hours after start of infusion of somatostatin. The platelet aggregation was evaluated according to Yamazaki, Takahashi and Sano (1975). Serotonin release was estimated by the method of Gormsen (to be published) and fibrin related antigens as described by Gormsen and Clausen (1973). /;:. T 3 (ngl100mll 100 50 TSH 1 O~~~~----r---.---, -30 0 60 120 180 240 MIN.Figure. Increase in serum T 3 (6 T 3 , mean ± SEM) following injection of bovine TSH 7.5 mU/kg in 7 healthy volunteers during an after somatostatin (e --e ) and in 20 controls (0 ---0). The shaded area represent the period of infusion. ResultsThe T 3 response to TSH stimulation was unaffected by somatostatin infusion (Figure). The biological efficacy of the somatostatin preparation used was confirmed by measuring serum insulin. In all su bjects a pronounced suppression of insulin levels was found during the somatostatin infusion.The minimal concentration of ADP giving secondary platelet aggregation was 3.2 ± 2.2 pmol/ml (mean ± SD) both before and after somatostatin infusion.Further, the maximal deflection in the primary aggregation and the deflection 5 min after the addition of ADP were unchanged. The same investigations performed with addition of collagen also were unaffected by somatostatin. No significant difference in serotonin release after adding ADP 5 pmol/ ml was found (11.3 ± 12.2% before and 8.5 ± 10.1% after somatostatin). Neither could any difference in serotonin release be dem...

The phenotypes of the Gm, Inv, and ISf system were studied in 106 subjects of Danish origin. The frequencies of the factors Gm [(1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17, and 21)], Inv [(1 and 2)], and ISf (1) are given. Rare phenotypes Gm (1, 17, –21), Gm (–1, –17, 21), and Gm (–1, 17, –21) were observed. Two reagents considered as anti-Gm (21) appear in this population to recognize two different specificities.

The results are summarized in the Table. Typical histologieal ex am pies are shown in the Figure. The morphologieal evaluation of the tissue was performed by two observers independently. Quantitative morphologieal ana• lysis of the glomerular lesions is under study. Discussion and Conclusion The results eonfirm reeent observations of inhibition or even reversal of diabetie glomerular lesions in rats after transplantation of isogeneie neonatal pancreatic tissue into the peritoneal cavity or after transplantation of a whole pancreas with long lasting normalization of the glucose metabolism. This study demonstrates that similar effeets can be obtained with a comparable small number of isolated islets when transplanted into the Iiver via the portal vein. This might be of importance beeause this organ seems to offer advantages in comparison with other sites of islet transplantation regarding the effect of insulin secretion (Brown et al. 1976) and for immunologieal reasons when transplantation is performed in the allogeneic system (

Serum insulin and blood sugar were investigated in ten normal-weight diabetics with maturity-onset diabetes and in 12 controls before and after intravenous injection of 25 gm dglucose without and during simultaneous infusion of isoprenaline 2 /-&g/min. A significant increase in serum insulin concentration was found after isoprenaline in both groups, both before and after injection of glucose. The increase in serum insulin level in the diabetics after isoprenaline was found to be normal, although the increase in insulin concentration following glucose was greatly reduced. It is concluded that in patients with maturity-onset diabetes there is presumably a defect of the glucose turnover in the B ceUs, whereas the process of insulin secretion itself is normal.

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