Somatostatin receptors family is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily and consists of 5 subtypes each differentially distributed throughout the CNS and periphery. These receptors bind with high affinity to the endogenous polypeptides somatostatin-14 (SRIF-14), somatostatin-28 (SRIF-28) and cortistatin, as well as a vast array of synthetic ligands. Receptor activation stimulates multiple intracellular signalling mechanisms giving rise to many tissue functions such as inhibition of growth hormone (GH) release and modulation of neuronal activity.
