Somatostatin receptor 1-5; expression profiles during rat development.

BACKGROUND:Somatostatin acts through five receptor subtypes 1-5). We aimed to investigate mRNA expression and protein distribution in whole rat embryos, with special emphasis on the pancreas. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Rat embryos were collected on embryonal days 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, and at birth. Presence of duanyu1942Rs was investigated with RT-PCR techniques and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:There was no mRNA expression in the whole rat embryos. All proteins were observed at embryonal day 10, but the localization varied between the different subtypes. From day 11 to birth duanyu1942Rs protein presence increased with time in major structures such as skin and cartilage. It remained similar over time in the heart and liver. In the fetal pancreas mRNA expression of and 4 was detected at day 14, and there was an increase up to birth. Only protein co-localized to a higher extent with the islet hormones studied. duanyu1942R2 was present in all islet endocrine cells except for β-cells. In contrast, the immunostaining for was co-localized with insulin and PP, and, finally, duanyu1942R5 with glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide. In mRNA isolated from whole rat embryos and expression showed a peak at day 14, while mRNA was not present until day 15. CONCLUSION:The present data suggest a role for duanyu1942Rs during the development of the rat embryo. Subsequent functional studies may elucidate regulatory roles of specific duanyu1942Rs for the growth and differentiation of the pancreas as well as other organs.

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