Somatostatin (SRIF) has been tested for its actions on the central nervous system to affect glucoregulation. In doses ineffective when given systemically , SRIF and SRIF analogs given intracisternally (ic) reduce hyperglycemia and hyperglucagonemia after ic bombesin administration. The SRIF analog, des-AA1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13-[D-Trp8]SRIF, decreases plasma insulin and elevates plasma glucose and glucagon when given systemically. However, when given ic, this peptide prevents the rise in glucose and glucagon after ic bombesin administration and is 10 times more potent than SRIF in reducing bombesin-induced hyperglycemia. Other analogs of SRIF and various unrelated peptides were found to be ineffective in reducing bombesin-induced hyperglycemia. des-AA1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13-[D-Trp]SRIF prevented the hyperglycemia induced by surgical stress or by ic administration of beta-endorphin or carbacol. des-AA1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13-[D-Trp]SRIF given ic did not prevent hyperglycemia induced by systemic administration of epinephrine, arginine, or glucagon. These studies suggest that SRIF and its analogs may act within the brain to affect glucoregulation.