Which hormone reduces gastric secretion and limits the release of gastrointestinal hormones in the gastrointestinal tract?

Appeared in: PGICH Noida NO-2025

Explanation

Somatostatin, secreted by D cells in the GI tract and pancreas, acts as a universal inhibitory hormone.
It directly inhibits gastric acid secretion from parietal cells and also indirectly inhibits acid production by suppressing the release of gastrin.
Its primary function is to slow down the digestive process by reducing GI motility, enzyme secretion, and blood flow.
It broadly suppresses the release of other GI hormones like cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

Option B: Cholecystokinin (CCK) is primarily a stimulatory hormone. It promotes digestion by triggering gallbladder contraction to release bile and stimulating the pancreas to release digestive enzymes.
Option C: Somatotropin is another name for Growth Hormone (GH), which is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. Its main role is to stimulate growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration in the body, not to regulate GI secretions.
Option D: Gastrin has the opposite effect of somatostatin. It is a potent stimulator of gastric acid secretion from parietal cells and also promotes the growth of the stomach lining (mucosal growth).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Hormonal regulation of the gastrointestinal system helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Synthetic analogs of somatostatin, such as octreotide, are used clinically to treat conditions involving excess hormone secretion, like carcinoid syndrome and acromegaly.
Octreotide is also used in emergency settings to manage acute variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis, as it reduces blood flow to the portal system.
What if? - If the question asked for a hormone that stimulates both gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme release, the correct answer would be Cholecystokinin (CCK).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key actions described in the question: 'reduces gastric secretion' and 'limits the release of... hormones'.
Recognize that these are inhibitory functions, essentially asking for the 'off switch' among the GI hormones.
Review the options and recall the primary function of each hormone.
Eliminate Gastrin, as it is the primary stimulator ('on switch') for gastric acid.
Eliminate Cholecystokinin (CCK), as it stimulates the gallbladder and pancreas.
Eliminate Somatotropin, as it is Growth Hormone and not a primary regulator of GI function.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Hormonal regulation of the gastrointestinal system.
Stem keywords: hormone, reduces gastric secretion, limits release of gastrointestinal hormones
Lead-in keywords: Which

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Practise the full PGICH Noida NO-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.