Agonists
Agonists
Agonists (/əˈɡɒnɪsts/; from the Greek αγωνιστής, agonistēs, 'participant, competitor, rival') are a class of drugs or naturally occurring substances that bind to and activate certain receptors in the body to produce a physiological response.
Etymology
The term "agonist" comes from the Greek word "αγωνιστής" (agonistēs), which means 'participant, competitor, rival'. It was first used in the context of pharmacology in the mid-20th century.
Types of Agonists
There are several types of agonists, each with different effects on the body:
- Full Agonists: These drugs bind to and activate a receptor, producing a full response. Examples include morphine, which is a full agonist of the mu-opioid receptor.
- Partial Agonists: These drugs also bind to and activate a receptor, but they produce a less than full response. An example is buprenorphine, which is a partial agonist of the mu-opioid receptor.
- Inverse Agonists: These drugs bind to the same receptor as full and partial agonists, but they produce the opposite effect. They are used to reduce the activity of receptors that are overactive.
Related Terms
- Antagonist: A drug that blocks or dampens a biological response by binding to and blocking a receptor rather than activating it like an agonist.
- Receptor: A protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell.
- Pharmacology: The branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Agonists
- Wikipedia's article - Agonists
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