Adrenergic antagonist

Visual definition of an antagonist, where it compared to agonists and reverse agonists.

An adrenergic antagonist is a drug that inhibits the function of adrenergic receptors. There are five adrenergic receptors, which are divided into two groups. The first group of receptors are the beta (β) adrenergic receptors. There are β1, β2, and β3 receptors. The second group contains the alpha (α) adrenoreceptors. There are only α1 and α2 receptors. Adrenergic receptors are located near the heart, kidneys, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.[1] There are also α-adreno receptors that are located on vascular smooth muscle.[2]

Antagonists reduce or block the signals of agonists. They can be drugs, which are added to the body for therapeutic reasons, or endogenous ligands. The α-adrenergic antagonists have different effects from the β-adrenergic antagonists.

  1. ^ Wiysonge, CS; Volmink, J; Opie, LH (2007). "Beta-blockers and the treatment of hypertension: it is time to move on". Cardiovasc J Afr. 18 (6): 351–2. PMC 4170499. PMID 18092107.
  2. ^ Giovannitti JA, Thoms SM, Crawford JJ (2015). "Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists: a review of current clinical applications". Anesth Prog. 62 (1): 31–9. doi:10.2344/0003-3006-62.1.31. PMC 4389556. PMID 25849473.