Somatostatin analogs and chimeric somatostatin-dopamine molecules differentially regulate human growth hormone and prolactin gene expression and secretion in vitro

► We test GH and PRL secretion and gene expression in human GH/PRL-secreting tumors. ► SST2 and SST5 agonists and SRIF/DA decrease GH secretion, but not GH mRNA levels. ► SRIF/DA and D2 agonist BIM-53097 inhibit both PRL secretion and PRL gene expression. ► SST5 agonist inhibits PRL secretion, but does not suppress PRL gene expression. ► D2 affinity has a crucial role in the action of SRIF/DA on PRL gene expression.