Expression of somatostatin and somatostatin receptor subtypes 1-5 in human normal and diseased kidney.

Somatostatin mediates inhibitory functions through five G protein-coupled somatostatin receptors (sst1-5). We used immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and RT-PCR to determine the presence of somatostatin receptors sst1, sst2A, sst2B, sst3, sst4, and sst5 in normal and IgA nephropathy human kidney. All somatostatin receptors were detected in the thin tubules (distal convoluted tubules and loops of Henle) and thick tubules (proximal convoluted tubules) in the tissue sections from nephrectomy and biopsy samples.