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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Pipeline for Multi-Scale Three-Dimensional Anatomic Study of the Human Heart
Published on: June 28, 2024
Autonomic receptor systems in the failing and aging human heart: similarities and differences
Otto-Erich Brodde1, Kirsten Leineweber
1Departments of Pathophysiology and Nephrology, University of Essen School of Medicine, IG I., 9.OG, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45147 Essen, Germany. otto-erich.brodde@uni-essen.de
Abstract:
Changes in autonomic receptor systems (alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors and muscarinic receptors) were compared in the aging and failing human heart. In both settings responsiveness of beta-adrenoceptors and all other receptor systems that evoke their effects via cyclic AMP accumulation was diminished. Muscarinic receptor function, on the other hand, was decreased in the aging, but unchanged in the failing heart; in contrast, G protein-coupled receptor kinase activity was increased in the failing, but unchanged in the aging heart. alpha-Adrenoceptor function was unchanged or slightly decreased in the failing heart. However, nothing is known on alpha-adrenoceptor changes in the aging heart. These results indicate that in the failing human heart all autonomic receptor systems appear to be altered in the direction to attenuate beta-adrenoceptor responses to sympathetic (over)stimulation while in the aging human heart autonomic receptor systems appear to be altered in a direction that protects the heart against too pronounced reduction in beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness.
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