Adrenoceptors

Research into the field of adrenoceptors has undergone explosive growth during the past decade, with the elucidation of the molecular structures of the three major families of adrenoceptors, namely the a1, a2 and a adrenoceptors, and of their functions within the confines of the cellular membrane. Rational systems and schemes for the sub-classification and nomenclature of the adrenoceptors have been devised and it has been demonstrated that multiple sub-types exist for each of the major adrenoceptor families. The role of adrenoceptors in homeostasis and disease is discussed.