title: Presence, distribution and physiological function of adrenergic and muscarinic receptor subtypes in the human heart.
abstract: The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system play a powerful role in controlling cardiac function by activating adrenergic and muscarinic receptors. In the human heart there exist alpha1-, beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors and M2-muscarinic receptors and possibly also (prejunctional) alpha2-adrenoceptors. Beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors are quite evenly distributed in the human heart while M2-receptors are heterogeneously distributed (more receptors in atria than in ventricles). Stimulation of beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors causes increases in heart rate and force of contraction while stimulation of M2-receptors decreases heart rate (directly in atria) and force of contraction (indirectly in ventricles). Pathological situations (such as heart failure) or pharmacological interventions (for example, beta-blocker treatment) can alter the distribution of beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors in the human heart, while M2-receptors are only marginally affected. On the other hand, relatively little is known on distribution and functional role of alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor subtypes in the human heart.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany. otto-erich.brodde@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Brodde
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bruck
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leineweber
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seyfarth
mesh_terms: D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic