Octreotide is the acetate salt of a cyclic octapeptide. It is a long-acting octapeptide with pharmacologic properties mimicking those of the natural hormone somatostatin. (en)
# Uhl W, Anghelacopoulos SE, Friess H, Buchler MW: The role of octreotide and somatostatin in acute and chronic pancreatitis. Digestion. 1999;60 Suppl 2:23-31. "Pubmed":http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10207228 (en)
Octreotide binds to somatostatin receptors. These receptors are coupled via pertussis toxin sensitive G proteins which lead to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Octreotide binding to these receptors also stimulates phosphotyrosine phosphatase and activation of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger via pertussis toxin insensitive G proteins. (en)