Differential regulation of prostaglandin synthesis in neonatal rat microglia and astrocytes by somatostatin

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of somatostatin in the regulation of brain inflammation. We used lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 production in neonatal rat microglia and in astrocytes as a model of brain inflammation. Our data show an unexpected differential effect of somatostatin on lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 synthesis in rat microglia vs. in astrocytes. Somatostatin markedly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 synthesis in microglia whereas, on the contrary, in astrocytes the lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 production was actually enhanced by somatostatin. These novel observations imply that somatostatin may regulate brain inflammation in a dual manner.