[Beta-receptor blockers: metabolic actions and therapeutic consequences (author's transl)]

Whereas the control of cardiac function occurs through the sympathetic nervous system via the beta 1-receptors, metabolic processes are controlled via beta 1- and/or beta 2-receptors accordingly. The inhibition occurring during the use of non-selective beta-receptor blockade of the beta 2-receptors also consequently leads undesirably to possible impairment of insulin secretion and especially to glycogenolysis in the skeletal musculature. The initially more intensely inhibited lipolysis under mixed beta-receptor blockade lead among other things to more severe changes in the lipoproteins than a predominantly beta 1-selective receptor blockade through reactive compensation procedures. Generally in the treatment of arterial hypertension, as also of cardiovascular disease with beta-receptor blocker, a beta 1-receptor blocker is preferred in order to avoid as far as possible disadvantageous metabolic actions of such treatment.