This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

New Perspectives With Clinical Relevance

Solomon H. Snyder, MD

JAMA. 1989;261(21):3126-3129.

Abstract
Our understanding of drug and neurotransmitter receptors has been greatly advanced by receptor binding techniques. The theme of multiple-receptor subtypes with clinical relevance is highlighted by calcium antagonist and benzodiazepine receptors. Numerous drugs may exert therapeutic and untoward effects via calcium channels. Examples include effects of loperamide hydrochloride on diarrhea, the phenothiazine thioridazine hydrochloride on cardiac and ejaculatory function, and the neuromuscular toxicity of aminoglycosides. Elevated numbers of calcium antagonist receptors in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be involved in the pathophysiology of this disease. Benzodiazepines act via discrete central and peripheral receptors. At central receptors, benzodiazepines facilitate the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter -y-aminobutyric acid. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are localized to mitochondria and enriched in several endocrine glands where they are influenced by therapeutic blood levels of benzodiazepines such as diazepam.

(JAMA. 1989;261:3126-3129)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Molecular Sciences and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205 (Dr Snyder).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Pharmacodynamic Issues Relevant to Geriatric Psychopharmacology
Pollock et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1990;3:221-228.