The classifi cation of αand β-adrenoceptors by Ahlquist and colleagues in 1948 provided the foundation for the development of drugs that could modulate the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) [1]. The fi rst β-blocker, pronethalol, developed by Sir James Black, was limited clinically due to safety concerns. However, the subsequent development of its successor, propranolol, earned Black the Nobel P...

OBJECTIVE Our investigation was designed to examine the signaling pathway involved in the enhancement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release by β-adrenoceptor agonists. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human U937 cells differentiated into macrophages were primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the absence or presence of β-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. The VEGF released and the in...

Cafestol and kahweol are diterpenes found only in the non-saponified lipid fraction of coffee. They are released during boiling and retained in the filtration process. Previous studies have shown peripheral antinociception induced by endogenous opioid peptides released by these diterpenes. Considering that the activation of the opioid system leads to a noradrenaline release, the aim of this stu...

β-Blockers reduce mortality and improve symptoms in people with heart disease; however, current clinically available β-blockers have poor selectivity for the cardiac β1-adrenoceptor (AR) over the lung β2-AR. Unwanted β2-blockade risks causing life-threatening bronchospasm and reduced efficacy of β2-agonist emergency rescue therapy. Thus, current life-prolonging β-blockers are contraindicated in...

AIMS β2-adrenergic stimulation causes beneficial effects on structure and function of regenerating muscles; thus, the β2-adrenoceptor may play an important role in the muscle regenerative process. Here, we investigated the role of the β2 -adrenoceptor in skeletal muscle regeneration. METHODS Tibialis anterior (TA) muscles from β2-adrenoceptor knockout (β2 KO) mice were cryolesioned and analys...

INTRODUCTION Thyrotoxicosis is an endocrine disorder with prominent cardiovascular manifestations. Thyroid hormone acts through genomic and non-genomic mechanisms to regulate cardiac function. Echocardiography is a useful, non-invasive, easily accessible, and affordable tool for studying the structural and physiological function of the heart. AIM We studied thyrotoxicosis patients in a Nigeri...

Treatment with β-adrenoceptor agonists does not fully overcome the symptoms associated with severe asthma. Serelaxin elicits potent uterine and vascular relaxation via its cognate receptor, RXFP1, and nitric oxide (NO) signaling, and is being clinically evaluated for the treatment of acute heart failure. However, its direct bronchodilator efficacy has yet to be explored. Tracheal rings were pre...

Metabolic syndrome is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications by a mechanism involving mainly decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and impaired NO-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)- cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling (NO-sGC-cGMP). To further develop this scientific point, study aimed investigate the effects long-term treatment with BAY 41–2272 (a sGC stim...