Drug receptor function and its regulation

本课课组的目的是：(1)利用先进的实验技术分析新型神经递质对受体的作用机制和大脑及外周器官和组织中受体功能的调节；(2)引入激动剂、受体、信号转导过程和细胞反应之间相互作用的新概念。该小组的成员在体外和体内对包括鼠、狗和猴子在内的各种动物物种的大脑、心脏、血管、血管外平滑肌和培养细胞进行了研究。我们讨论了(1)大脑和外周组织中相同受体亚型介导的不同信号转导和细胞反应的对比问题，(2)最近发现的以NO为神经递质的新神经的生理作用和病理生理意义，(3)一些仅在某些动物中有效的受体亚型的选择性拮抗剂。(4)通过先进的分析技术发现的经典受体激活的激动剂作用的新机制；(5)新发现的受体- g蛋白-秒信使系统。我相信通过这次小组活动的讨论、交流和新发现的展示，每个成员都对受体研究的进展做出了很大的贡献，并且从其他人的展示中获得了对未来研究有价值的成果，拓宽了对受体特性的认识。

This research group was organized by the aim of (1) analyzing mechanisms of action of new neurotransmitters on receptors and regulations of receptor function in the brain and peripheral organs and tissues by the use of advanced experimental technique and (2) introducing new concepts of interaction between agonists, receptors, signal-transduction processes and cellular responses.The members of this group carried out their study with the brain, heart, blood vessel, extravascular smooth muscle and cultured cells in vitro and in vivo in various animal species, including rhdents, dogs and monkeys. we discussed with great interests on (1) problems of contrasting of different signal transduction and cellular responses mediated by the same receptor subtypes in the brain and peripheral tissues, (2) physiological roles and pathophysiological implications of recently-determined new nerves in which NO acts as neurotransmitter, (3) some of the so-called selective antagonists of receptor subtypes that are effective only in certain animals species, (4) new mechanisms of agonist action through classic receptor activation that are proposed from findings obtained by advanced technique of analysis, and (5) newly-found receptor-G-protein-second messenger systems. I believe that through the discussion, exchange of ideas and presentation of new findings in this group activity, each of the members greatly contributed to the progress of receptor research and in addition obtained valuable fruits from presentations by others for the future study and broadened the knowledge of receptor characteristics.