Effector coupling of somatostatin receptor subtypes sst1 and sst2 was examined in a reconstituted system. Forskolin-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) formation was inhibited 66% by somatostatin (SRIF-14) in CHO cells expressing somatostatin receptor 1(sst1) (CHO-SR1), but not sst2, in a dose-dependent manner with an ED50 of 1 x 10(-9) mol/L SRIF-14. The inhibition was blocked by pertussis toxin (PTX), indicating that sst1 is coupled to adenylyl cyclase via PTX-sensitive Gi protein. In CHO cells, Gi alpha 2 and Gi alpha 3 mRNAs were detected. In adenylyl cyclase assays, 1 mumol/L SRIF-14 caused a 16% inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenyly cyclase activity. Preincubation with Gi alpha 3, but not Gi alpha 1/Gi alpha 2, antiserum blocked this inhibition. By contrast, sst2 is coupled to adenylyl cyclase via Gi alpha 1. In cells expressing sst2 with Gi alpha 1(CHO-SR2G1), SRIF-14 significantly inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation by 53% and with an ED50 at 4 x 10(-9)mmol/L SRIF-14, which was completely blocked by PTX; ED50 values for sst1 and sst2 agree with the IC50 values in binding assays. In CHO-SR1, the rank of potency of agonists affecting adenyl cyclase was SRIF-14 = SRIF-28 > RC 160 > SMS 201-995. In CHO-SR2G1, the rank was RC-160 > SRIF-14 = SRIF-28 > SMS 201-995.