Distribution and characterisation of somatostatin receptor mRNA and binding sites in the brain and periphery

Abstract

The distribution and nature of (somatostatin) SRIF receptors and receptor mRNAs was studied in the brain and periphery of various laboratory animals using in situ hybridisation, autoradiography and radioligand binding. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of SRIF receptors msst1, msst2, msst3, msst4 and msst5 was studied in the adult mouse brain by in situ hybridisation histochemistry using specific oligonucleotide probes and compared to that of adult rats. As observed in rat brain, sst3 receptor mRNA is prominently expressed across the mouse brain, although equivalent binding has not yet been identified in situ. Sst1 and sst2 receptor mRNA expression, was prominent and again comparable to th..