[Spatial and temporal expression pattern of somatostatin receptor 2 in mouse]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Cell Biology

Context:

• Somatostatin (SST) is a crucial hormone regulating diverse biological functions.
• Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is the most prevalent somatostatin receptor subtype.
• The precise cellular localization of SSTR2 expression across various tissues and developmental stages remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose:

• To investigate and map the expression pattern of Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) protein in mice.
• To identify specific cell types expressing SSTR2 during different developmental stages, from embryonic to adult.
• To provide a comprehensive atlas of SSTR2 cellular distribution in key mouse tissues.

Summary:

• Utilized multicolour immunofluorescence analyses to detect SSTR2 protein expression in mice at embryonic day 15.5, postnatal days 1, 7, 15, and ages 3 and 6 months.
• Identified SSTR2 expression in specific cell types within the brain (neurons, astrocytes), bone marrow (mesenchymal, hematopoietic, stem, B cells), lung (macrophages, alveolar epithelial, ciliated airway cells), intestine (epithelial, neuronal cells), spleen (hair follicle, gastric epithelial, hematopoietic stem cells, nerve fibers), and kidney (tubular epithelial cells).
• This detailed mapping reveals SSTR2 expression in a wide array of cell types, including neuronal, hematopoietic, epithelial, and mesenchymal lineages.

Impact:

• Provides novel insights into the cellular and tissue-specific roles of the somatostatin system.
• Establishes a foundational resource for understanding the physiological functions of SST and SSTR2 in various cell types.
• Facilitates future research on the therapeutic potential of targeting SSTR2 in diverse physiological and pathological conditions.