Clinically used somatostatin (SRIF) analogs, octreotide and latireotide, act primarily by binding to SRIF receptor subtype 2 (sst(2)). In contrast, the recently described multigand SOM230 binds with high affinity to sst(1-3) and sst(5) and KE 108 is characterised as a high affinity ligand for all five SRIF receptors. In tumoural mouse corticotrophs (AtT-20 cells) and in mouse hippocampus, binding and functional features of KE 108 were examined and compared to SRTF-14, octreoticle and SOM230. In AtT-20 cells, KE 108 bound with high affinity at [(125) I] LTT-S RI F-28-labelled sites similarly to SRIF-14, octreotide and SOM230. At the functional level, all four ligands increased guanosine-5'-O-(3-S-35]thio)-triphosphate binding and decreased cAMP accumulation or intracellular Ca (2+) concentration through G(i/O). proteins. In hippocampal slices, KE 108, octreotide and SOM230 also bound with high affinity at [(125) I]LTT-SRIF-28-label led sites similarly to SRIF-14, but KE 108, octreotide or SOM230 did not influence spontaneous epileptiform activity which was, in contrast, inhibited by SRIF- 14. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that KE 108 has high affinity for native mouse SRIF receptors. Functionally, KE 108 mediates SRIF action at sst(2/5) in corticotrophs whereas it does not mimic the SRIF-induced inhibition of hippocampal excitation suggesting that the high potency and efficacy of a synthetic ligand to all known SRIF receptors may not reproduce entirely the effects of the natural SRIF. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.