β-Adrenergic Receptors: Recognition and Regulation

Of the various endogenous hormones and exogenous drugs, few have more widespread and potent effects than the catecholamines. It is therefore not surprising that natural and synthetic catecholamines and a variety of compounds that antagonize or block their effects are among the most useful and versatile agents at the physician's disposal.Catecholamine ReceptorsMore than 25 years ago Ahlquist1 used the disparate relative potency of catecholamines in stimulating a variety of physiologic processes to classify adrenergic effects into two main types, α and β (Table 1). Each type of response is characterized by a typical order of potency of agonist . . .