Introduction To Antagonists: Theory
Comparing Definitions
An agonist acts at the receptors indicated in physiological system 1, shown below.
Where would the three types of antagonist (defined below) act?
Where would the three types of antagonist (defined below) act?
An irreversible, competitive antagonist associates with the same receptor as the agonist and stays associated with the receptor.
A non-competitive antagonist affects an agonist by acting at some point other than at the receptors in the chain of events leading to the response.
A physiological/functional antagonist acts on separate cells or a separate physiological system to that of the agonist. It can also act on a second system within the cell on which the agonist acts.