Cortistatin-17 and Somatostatin-14 Display the Same Effects on Growth Hormone, Prolactin, and Insulin Secretion in Patients with Acromegaly or Prolactinoma

Context: Cortistatin binds all somatostatin receptor subtypes but also has particular central actions; moreover, a specific cortistatin receptor has also been discovered. Objective: We compared the endocrine effects of cortistatin-17 with those of somatostatin-14 in patients with acromegaly (ACRO) or prolactinoma (PRLOMA). Normal subjects (NS) were studied as control group. Design: All subjects underwent the following tests: 1) saline, 2) somatostatin-14 (2.0 μg/kg·h iv, 0–120 min) and 3) cortistatin-17 (2.0 μg/kg·h iv, 0–120 min) infusion. Results: Cortistatin-17 and somatostatin-14 inhibited GH secretion to the same extent in ACRO (P < 0.05) and NS (P < 0.01). Cortistatin-17 and somatostatin-14 inhibited PRL secretion in PRLOMA (P < 0.05), to some extent in ACRO (P value not significant), but not in NS. Insulin secretion was inhibited by both cortistatin-17 and somatostatin-14 to the same extent in all groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Cortistatin-17 and somatostatin-14 display the same effects on GH, PRL, and insulin secretion in patients with ACRO or PRLOMA.