Somatostatin receptors in the adrenal

Somatostatin receptors have been visualized in the adrenal by autoradiography using the iodinated Tyr3 derivative of the somatostatin octapeptide analog SMS 201-995 (H-D-Phe-Cys-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr(ol), Sandostatin*). In the rat adrenal gland somatostatin receptors are not exclusively restricted to the glomerulosa cell layer, but can also be found in the adrenal medulla, particularly after in vitro incubation. The receptor sites in the adrenal are saturable and have affinity constants of 0.42 nM in the adrenal cortical and 0.15 nM in medullary membranes. The distribution of somatostatin receptors in the adrenal visualized in vitro is strongly species specific. Whereas only the adrenal medulla is labelled in the hamster, mouse and rhesus monkey, solely the glomerulosa layer shows somatostatin receptor sites in the cow and the guinea pig. The rat is the only species with a high density of somatostatin receptor sites in both the glomerulosa cell layer and the adrenal medulla.