COUPLING OF RAT SOMATOSTATIN RECEPTOR SUBTYPES TO A G-PROTEIN GATED INWARDLY RECTIFYING POTASSIUM CHANNEL (GIRK1)

The five different rat somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTR1-SSTR5) we re coexpressed with a subunit of G-protein gated inwardly rectifying p otassium channel (GIRK1) in Xenopus oocytes. SSTR2-SSTR5, but not SSTR 1 coupled efficiently to the activation of GIRK currents when stimulat ed by SST14 or SST28. A comparison of the dose-response curves and of the maximum currents obtained indicates that SSTR2 couples most effici ently to this effector, supporting the notion that SSTR2 is involved i n activation of potassium conductances by SST in vivo. (C) 1997 Federa tion of European Biochemical Societies.