Somatostatin

Somatostatin is a peptide hormone that is produced and secreted by several different cells in the body, such as in the pancreas, the gastrointestinal tract, the hypothalamus, and the central nervous system.

Somatostatin acts as an inhibitory hormone, meaning that it reduces the activity of other hormones such as the growth hormone and insulin. It is also involved in slowing down the activity of the digestive system, by inhibiting the secretion of gastric hormones (e.g. gastrin and cholecystokinin) and decreasing gastrointestinal motility.