Adrenergic receptors: Why can't I remember their functions?!

[bomgd3]

I'm an MS2 but for whatever reason I still just can't retain the adrenergic receptor functions. The problem is that most of the resources I've found are designed for PhD's, so they list EVERYTHING. Is there a decent way to remember the clinically important alpha1/2 and beta1/2/3 receptor functions? Thanks in advance!!!

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[Mithril]

I just use acronyms.

a1 - VUSE (vasoconstriction, contraction of uterus, constriction of sphincters, eye radial muscle constriction leading to dilation)

a2 - autoinhibitory in sympathetic ganglia (a2 and auto sound similar)

b1 - HFK (heart rate and contractility, fat cell lipolysis, kidney renin secretion)

b2 - BB GULL (bladder wall relaxation, skeletal blood vessel dilation, GI wall relaxation, uterus relaxation, liver glycogenolysis, lung bronchodilation)

b3 - heat, not really important clinically but b3 and heat (from lipolysis and skeletal muscle thermogenesis) sound similar.

Everyone has their own ways. You just need to develop one.

Also, you have (b)1 heart and (b)2 lungs.

 

[dr zaius]

B1 = heart

B2 = lungs

you have 1 heart and 2 lungs.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

B1 = heart

B2 = lungs

you have 1 heart and 2 lungs.

So, you've got Beta Down, no prob, right?
B1 = heart
B2 = Lungs
you have 1 heart and 2 lungs

Now Alpha...
a1 = heart and vessels
a2 = dont matter

Ok. Stimulation makes everything "GO." B1 makes the heart rate increase. a1 makes the heart go fast and vessels get tight. The only one that is "wrong" is B2, because, unlike a1 and B1 (notice the "1"s) B2 activation causes dilation.

The only thing you need to do is realize that B2 is also in the muscles. They do the same thing. "Dilate." B2 dilate bronchioles in the lungs and dilate arterioles in the muscles.

 

[armybound]

I wouldn't say alpha2 doesn't matter, they love to ask about a hypertensive crisis after someone all of a sudden stops taking their clonidine.

Otherwise I agree with the above. All I paid much attention to was
alpha1 = give alpha1 blockers to decrease blood pressure
alpha2 = inhibitory autoreceptor; know about clonidine

beta1 = heart; agonize it to get better beats, block it if you're hypertensive, etc
beta2 = lungs; agonize if you're having a hard time breathing, watch out when giving systemic beta blockers in an asthmatic

and then there's the whole issue of remembering which receptors certain drugs and endogenous substances work on...