Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics · 1980 · 122 citations · 0 references
NursingPharmacologyPhysiologyAgingGeriatric PharmacologyPharmacodynamicsAge-related PharmacodynamicsAge-related Physiologic ChangesAge-related Physiological ChangesAging PhysiologyCardiovascular Pharmacotherapy In Older AdultsClinical Pharmacology EvidenceCyclic Adenosine Monophosphate PathwayCyclic Adenosine Monophosphate SignalingDose-response Curve AnalysisDose-response Curve FittingHeart RateLog-dose ResponsePhysiological Changes In Aging
Beta adrenoceptor-mediated responsiveness to isoproterenol was compared in young and old subjects using the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) by lymphocytes as an index. The mean log dose-response curve for the elderly group was displaced to the right and the mean maximum response was less than that for the young subjects. The results corroborate evidence of a decreased response to isoproterenol-induced increases in heart rate in the elderly and raise the possibility of a generalized decrease in beta adrenoceptor-mediated functions in old age.