INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION-RECEPTORS

SUMMARY

1. The recognition of chemical messengers by cells depends on interaction with receptors.

2. When a hormone/neurotransmitter is present in excess, the number of active receptors is down-regulated. This occurs through internalization or desensitization.

3. Internalization: receptor-mediated endocytosis decreases the number of available receptors.

4. Desensitization: receptors are modified in ways that make them less responsive.

5. When a messenger is deficient, there is an increase in the number of active receptors.

Reference(s)

Barrett, K.E., Barman, S.M., Boitano, S., Brooks, H.L., Weitz, M., Brian Patrick Kearns, Ganong, W.F. and Mcgraw-Hill Education (Firm (2016). Ganong’s review of medical physiology. 25th ed. New York: Mcgraw Hill Education.
Hall, J.E. and Hall, M.E. (2020). Guyton And Hall Textbook Of Medical Physiology. 14th ed. S.L.: Elsevier - Health Science.
West, J.B. and Luks, A.M. (2021). West’s Pulmonary Pathophysiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.