Posted by saturn on April 7, 2007, at 13:53:48
In reply to Fellow pharm-geeks: a question about terminology, posted by cache-monkey on April 7, 2007, at 12:40:28
>
> Are the following more or less the same? If not, what are the differences?
> * Increase in the number of receptors
> * Up-regulation of receptors
> * Increased expression of receptors
> * Increased density of receptors
> * Increased availability of receptors
> [I'd also be interested in finding out which (if any) of these is implied by "sensitization".]I would regard all 5 of them as being equivalent.
"Sensitization" refers to the requirement of higher doses to achieve an effect once achieved at a lower dose. It is generally thought to be caused by receptor down-regulation and desensitization, which is the opposite of the changes you mentioned.
poster:saturn
thread:747867
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070407/msgs/747894.html