title: Somatostatin receptors.
abstract: The diverse biological effects of somatostatin (SRIF) are mediated by a family of G protein-coupled receptors (termed sst) that are encoded by five nonallelic genes located on separate chromosomes. The receptors can be further divided into two subfamilies: sst(2,3,5) react with octapeptide and hexapeptide SRIF analogues and belong to one subclass; sst(1,4) react poorly with these compounds and fall into another subclass. This review focuses on the molecular pharmacology and function of these receptors, with particular emphasis on the ligand-binding domain, subtype-selective analogues, agonist-dependent receptor regulation and desensitization responses, subtype-specific effector coupling, and signal transduction pathways responsible for inhibiting cell secretion and cell growth or induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Fraser Laboratories, McGill University, Departments of Medicine and Neurology and Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Hospital and the Montreal Neurological Institute, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Srikant