Kinetics of Somatostatin Receptor Migration in Isolated Pancreatic Islets

Eighty-seven percent of the total cellular pool of somatostatin (SRIF) receptors in pancreatic islets are located intracellularly. Upon glucose stimulation (300 mg/dl) of insulin release, 8–15% of intracellular SRIF receptors are translocated to the plasma membrane. Affinity of SRIF receptors does not change during their migration and the total cellular pool of receptors remains constant. With prolonged glucose stimulation, surface membrane somatostatin receptor concentration reaches a maximum level at 60 min.