The changes on the regional distributions and frequencies of somatostatin-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the fundus and pylorus of the stomach of osteoporotic Sprague-Dawley rats induced by ovariectomy were studied by immunohistochemical methods. The experimental animals were divided into two groups, one for non-ovariectomized group (Sham) and the other for ovariectomized group (OVX). Samples were collected from the fundus and pylorus regions at the 10 th week after ovariectomy or sham-operation. Somatostatin-IR cells were observed in both regions of the stomach regardless of ovariectomy. Most of these IR cells in the mucosa of the fundus or pylorus were generally spherical or spindle in shape (open type cell) while cells found in the gastric gland regions were round in shape (close type cell). Significantly lower number (P<0.01) of somatostatin-IR cells were detected in OVX as compared with Sham in the fundus and pylorus. In the present study, the density of somatostatin in the stomach was markedly decreased. Therefore, these changes in density of somatostatin-IR cells detected in this study may support the speculation that the development of gastrointestinal symptoms in osteoporosis such as impairments of calcium and some lipids, frequently encountered in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis because the changes in gastrointestinal endocrine density would reflect the change in the capacity of producing these hormones and regulating gut motility and digestion.