The adrenomimetic drugs mimic the effects of adrenergic sympathetic nerve stimulation on sympathetic effectors; these drugs are also referred to as sympathomimetic agents. The adrenergic transmitter norepinephrine and the adrenal medullary hormone epinephrine also are included under this broad heading. The adrenomimetic drugs are an important group of therapeutic agents that can be used to main...

4 Beta-adrenergic blocking agents or β-blockers are prescribed for the treatment of a broad array of common disorders. Their widespread use, coupled with a narrow therapeutic index, contributes to their being a significant cause of poisoning from overdose and the second most common cause of mortality from cardiovascular agents. This article provides an overview of beta-adrenergic system pathoph...

The nature of beta adrenergic receptors in human cerebral arteries was characterized and alteration of these receptors after subarachnoid hemorrhage was examined using a radioligand binding assay. The specific 3H-dihydroalprenolol, a beta adrenergic antagonist, binding to human cerebral arteries was saturable and of high affinity (KD = 12.3 nM) with a Bmax of 790 fmol/mg protein. Ki values and ...

In order to determine whether an adrenergic mechanism is involved in the secretion of growth hormone and insulin, the effect of adrenergic-blocking or -stimulating agents on plasma human growth hormone (HGH), immunoreactive insulin, blood free fatty acids (FFA), and glucose levels was studied in normal human subjects. The intravenous infusion of propranolol, a beta adrenergic-blocking agent, ca...

The airways contain a dense subepithelial microvascular plexus that is involved in the supply and clearance of substances to and from the airway wall. We set out to test the hypothesis that airway smooth muscle reactivity to bronchoconstricting agents may be dependent on airway mucosal blood flow. Immunohistochemical staining identified vasoconstrictor and vasodilator nerve fibers associated wi...

Background—Past studies have suggested that the adrenergic system becomes abnormally activated in chronic volume overload, such as in severe aortic valve regurgitation (AR). However, the effectiveness of agents directed against this adrenergic activation has never been adequately tested in chronic AR. We therefore tested the effects of metoprolol treatment on the left ventricular (LV) function ...