Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor
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Effect
The α2 receptor has several, general, functions in common with other α-receptors, but also has individual effects.
General
Common (or still unspecified) effects include:
- Vasoconstriction of arteries to heart (coronary artery).[1]
- Vasoconstriction of veins[1]
- Decrease motility of smooth muscle in gastrointestinal tract[1]
- Contraction of male genitalia during ejaculation
Individual
Individual actions of the α2 receptor include:
- Mediates synaptic transmission in pre- and postsynaptic nerve terminals.
- Decrease release of acetylcholine[1]
- Decrease release of noradrenaline[1]
- Inhibit noradrenaline system in brain
- Inhibition[1] of lipolysis in adipose tissue.[1]
- inhibition of insulin release in pancreas.[1]
- induction of glucagon release from pancreas.
- platelet aggregation
- contraction of sphincters of the gastrointestinal tract
- ↓ Secretion from salivary gland[1]
Mechanism
A G protein - Gi renders adenylate cyclase inactivated, resulting in decrease of cAMP.
The relaxation of gastrointestinal tract motility is by presynaptic inhibition[1], where transmitters inhibit further release by homotropic effects.
Agonists
adrenaline has higher affinity for the alpha-2 receptor than has noradrenaline, which, in turn, has much higher affinity than has isoprenaline.[1] Other agonists include:
- clonidine*[1] (antihypertensive)
- lofexidine (antihypertensive)
- xylazine (veterinary)
- tizanidine (in spasms, cramping)
- guanfacine (antihypertensive)
- clenbuterol*[1] (decongestant and bronchodilator)
* denotes selective agonists to the receptor.
Antagonists
- yohimbine*[1] (purported aphrodisiac)
- mirtazapine (NaSSA)
- mianserin (tetracyclic antidepressant)
- idazoxan*[1](experimental)[1]
* denotes selective agonists to the receptor.
Types
There are three types of α2 receptors: ADRA2A, ADRA2B, ADRA2C.
See also
- Other adrenergic receptors
References
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .

