Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Neuropharmacological Manipulation of Restrained and Free-flying Honey Bees, Apis mellifera
Published on: November 26, 2016
Drugs from emasculated hormones: the principle of syntopic antagonism
1Department of Analytical Pharmacology, Rayne Institute, King's College Hospital School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
This lecture illustrates the early stages in the planning and discovery of propranolol, an adrenaline beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and cimetidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist--the first examples of clinically useful drugs from each of these classes. The significance of selective agonists, partial agonists, and syntopic antagonists and the importance of the bioassay and the use of molar models in the drug discovery process are discussed. For the future, an outline of potential developments in hormone-receptor concepts is offered leading to the conclusion that progress may depend on improvements in bioassays and related molar modeling.
Related Concept Videos
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous ligand's action.
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist
Antagonists can be classified as competitive or noncompetitive based on their...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism
The most common type is receptor antagonism, where one drug acts as an antagonist to block the effects of another drug by...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Agonism and Antagonism: Quantification
To quantify these effects, researchers use a dose-response curve, which provides valuable information about the potency and efficacy of a drug. Potency refers to...

