Depressive cardio-respiratory effects of somatostatin in anaesthetized rats

The results of this study suggest that hypoventilation induced by intravenous somatostatin administration occurs outside vagal afferentation to the medulla and is mediated via carotid body afferents. Sino-aortic chemoreceptors and baroreceptors do not contribute to bradycardia and a fall in blood pressure. These cardiovascular effects are presumably mediated due to excitation of somatostatin receptors within the heart and/or in the brain.