A 1-Adrenergic

The ergolines have provided a number of drugs that show interaction with neurotransmitters. Depending on the substitution pattern, they may be dopamine agonists or antagonists, a-adrenergic blockers, or Inhibitors of the release of prolactin. A recent member of the series, pergolide... 

The biological actions of adrenaline and noradrenaline are mediated via nine different G-protein-coupled receptors, which are located in the plasma membrane of neuronal and nonneuronal target cells. These recqrtors are divided into two different groups, a-adrenergic receptors and P-adrenergic recqrtors (see P-adrenergic system). 

The distinction between a- and P-adrenergic receptors was first proposed by Ahlquist in 1948 based on experiments with various catecholamine derivatives to produce excitatory (a) or inhibitory (P) responses in isolated smooth muscle systems. Initially, a further subdivision into presynaptic a2- and postsynaptic oq-receptors was proposed. However, this anatomical classification of a-adrenergic recqrtor subtypes was later abandoned. 

Synaptic Transmission a-Adrenergic System Muscarinic Receptors Histaminergic System... 

Dopaminergic System Anti-Parkinson Drugs a-Adrenergic System... 

Older tricyclic antidepressants are set in italics. The specificity of action of tricyclic antidepressants (in particular of amitritpyline, imipmmine, doxepine, noitriptyline, maprotiline) is limited because at therapeutic levels ihese drugs also block receptors (H t-histamine, a,-adrenergic, muscarinic). 

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