Pituitary somatostatin receptors. Characterization by binding with a nondegradable peptide analogue.

Somatostatin receptors in the rat pituitary gland were characterized by binding analysis with a radioiodinated high affinity somatostatin analogue, 125I-Tyr1[D-Trp8]somatostatin. Receptor binding of this derivative reached equilibrium at 30 min and was maintained at a plateau for at least 60 min. Two L-Trp8- labeled somatostatin analogues. 125I-Tyr1- and [125I-Tyr11]somatostatin, displayed less stable and lower specific uptake and higher nonspecific binding. In contrast to the rapid degradation of the L-Trp8 ligands during binding assay, 125I-Tyr1]D-Trp8]somatostatin retained more than 80% of its binding activity after 90 min of incubation with pituitary particles. Pituitary particles bound 125I-Tyr1]D-Tyr8]somatostatin with high affinity (Ka = 8.6 +/- 1.2 X 10(9) M-1) and capacity of 54.4 +/- 2.6 fmol/mg. These binding sites showed specificity for the native peptide and its active analogues, and other peptide hormones, including angiotensin II, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, vasopressin, oxytocin, substance P, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone, did not inhibit tracer binding. A good correlation was observed between the binding affinities of several somatostatin analogues and their potencies as inhibitors of growth hormone release in rat pituitary cells. These findings emphasize the physiological importance of the pituitary somatostatin receptor in mediating the inhibitory action of the peptide on growth hormone release. The use of Tyr1[d-Trp8]somatostatin as a labeled ligand permits accurate determinations of the binding affinity and concentration of receptors for somatostatin in the normal pituitary gland and provides a basis for further studies of somatostatin receptor regulation and receptor-mediated cellular effects of the tetradecapeptide.