Endogenous agonist
Endogenous Agonist
Endogenous agonist (pronunciation: en-doj-uh-nuhs ag-uh-nist) is a term used in pharmacology to describe a substance naturally produced within the body that can interact with and activate a receptor.
Etymology
The term 'endogenous' is derived from the Greek words 'endon' meaning 'within' and 'genous' meaning 'produced'. 'Agonist' is derived from the Greek word 'agonistes' meaning 'competitor'.
Definition
An endogenous agonist is a type of ligand, a molecule that binds to another (usually larger) molecule, that is produced within an organism and has the ability to initiate a response by binding to and activating specific receptors within the body. This contrasts with exogenous agonists, which are substances introduced from outside the organism.
Examples
Examples of endogenous agonists include neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, and hormones such as insulin and adrenaline. These substances are naturally produced within the body and bind to specific receptors to trigger physiological responses.
Related Terms
- Antagonist: A molecule that inhibits or reduces the activity of a receptor.
- Partial agonist: A molecule that binds to and activates a receptor, but only has partial efficacy at the receptor relative to a full agonist.
- Inverse agonist: A substance that binds to the same receptor as an agonist but induces a pharmacological response opposite to that agonist.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Endogenous agonist
- Wikipedia's article - Endogenous agonist
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