Neurobiology of Somatostatin Receptors: Functional Characterization in Central Nervous System

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Central nervous system (CNS) is composed of neurons and astrocytes, which use glutamate as major excitatory and GABA as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. NMDA receptors, major glutamate ionotropic receptors and somatostatin receptors (members of GPCR family) are widely expressed in CNS and linked to many fundamental functions of the brain at the molecular and cellular levels. Several studies have shown an inhibitory role of Somatostatin (SST) via SSTRs on NMDARs mediated neurotoxic effects on CNS suggesting that SST released from neurons and/or astrocytes might play a crucial role in neuronal survival in neurotoxicity. Prior to implementing SSTR subtypes to pathological conditions, it is essential to determine their precise distribution and biological functions. To delineate the morphological, biochemical or biophysical properties of SSTRs and to derive any direct pharmacological relation with NMDAR subtypes in the brain, we will use in-vivo (brain slices) and in-vitro (pure and mixed neuronal and astrocytes culture) models to induce NMDA toxicity. We will address following questions: