['Response to growth factors by the choriocapillaris is one of the main aspects in the development and progression of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of the study was to examine the effect of octreotide--an analogue of somatostatin with possible favorable effects in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration--on growth factor-activated bovine choriocapillary endothelial cells (BCEC).', 'Cultivated BCEC were stimulated with 20 ng/ml VEGF, 5 ng/ml bFGF, 50 ng/ml TGFbeta(2), or 50 ng/ml IGF-I for 24 h. Afterwards, the cells were incubated for a further 24 h with octreotide (10(-6) M). BCEC proliferation was determined by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation. The experiments were performed in normal conditions and in O(2)-limited (5% O(2)) atmosphere.', 'VEGF, bFGF, and IGF-I significantly stimulated BCEC proliferation under normoxic as well as under hypoxic conditions ( P<0.05); the value for TGFbeta(2)stimulation was not significant. Under normoxic conditions, after addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-I-stimulated cells there was no longer any significant [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation compared to the control medium. Under hypoxic conditions similar results were obtained after addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-I-stimulated cells.'] Does octreotide inhibit growth factor-induced bovine choriocapillary endothelial cells in vitro?