title: Determinants of smooth muscle sensitivity.
abstract: 1. Deviation supersensitivity and post-junctional supersensitivity are important determinants in the control of the response of smooth muscle. 2. Post-junctional supersensitivity is a process whereby effector cells have augmented responsiveness as a consequence of an impaired physiological stimulus. Deviation supersensitivity which occurs as a result of inhibition of sites of loss or inactivation of the transmitter substance noradrenaline and its analogues also produces an enhanced response of smooth muscle cell preparations. 3. The enzymes monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase are irreversible site of loss of noradrenaline. Functional impairment of these enzymes results in deviation supersensitivity. 4. The complexities involved in unravelling the contribution of noradrenaline metabolizing enzymes to deviation supersensitivity are highlighted with emphasis upon the pioneering work of Professor de la Lande in this field.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Division of Human Nutrition, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Head
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*