Somatostatin receptors on pituitary somatotrophs, thyrotrophs, and lactotrophs: pharmacological evidence for loose coupling to adenylate cyclase.

Pharmacological characterization of somatostatin (SRIF) receptors located on somatotrophs, thyrotrophs, and lactotrophs was attempted by measuring the effects of 14 structural agonists of somatostatin (SRIF) on the inhibition of basal and GRF-stimulated GH and basal and TRH-stimulated PRL and TSH secretion. We also checked the abilities of the analogs to displace [125I]N-Tyr-SRIF binding to pituitary cell membranes and their potency to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity. There was a very good correlation (r = 0.975) between the displacement of [125I]N-Tyr-SRIF and the inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by the analogs. The effects of the analogs on secretion of the three hormones followed the same rank order of potency. However, the active analogs displayed 2-6 times lower affinities in inhibiting PRL than GH or TSH secretions. The shift in affinity was even more pronounced in the case of the lower potency of the analogs as inhibitors of adenylate cyclase activity compared to hormone secretions. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml; 24 h) blocked SRIF inhibition of basal and GRF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and decreased by 83% [125I]N-Tyr-SRIF binding. It also blocked the ability of SRIF to inhibit GRF-induced GH and TRH-induced PRL and TSH secretion. However, pertussis toxin also increased GRF stimulation of GH secretion and decreased TRH stimulation of both TSH and PRL secretion. We conclude from our data that SRIF-binding sites located on the three target cells of the adenohypophysis are of a single class. These binding sites are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase, but the inhibition of hormone secretions by SRIF cannot be explained solely through adenylate cyclase inhibition. Another mechanism of transduction must be involved in the actions of SRIF on its three pituitary target cells.