title: Digitalis 'receptors' during chronic digoxin treatment.
abstract: The effect of digoxin treatment on Mg-dependent [Na+-K+]-ATPase (the receptor for cardiac glycosides) was assessed by comparison of intracellular Na+-K+, 86Rb uptake and number of digoxin binding sites in the erythrocytes of 138 patients on long term digoxin and of 133 control subjects. The parameters were also assessed in thirty-two patients followed longitudinally for 1 y. The results indicate that the cells adapt to chronic exposure to 'therapeutic' dosage of digoxin with an overcompensatory synthesis of new receptors, a possible mechanism through which the normal intraerythrocytic ionic equilibrium is re-established. The process of synthesis of new receptors appears to be completed in erythrocytes in a period of 4 months after the start of digoxin treatment.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004077:Digoxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000032:analysis*; D012413:Rubidium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C027082:digitalis receptor; D004077:Digoxin; D012964:Sodium; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D012413:Rubidium; D011188:Potassium