agonist (redirected from Agonists)

agonist /ag·o·nist/ (ag´ah-nist)

1. one involved in a struggle or competition.

2. agonistic muscle.

3. in pharmacology, a drug that has an affinity for and stimulates physiologic activity at cell receptors normally stimulated by naturally occurring substances.

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ag·o·nist (g-nst)

n.

1. A contracting muscle that is resisted or counteracted by an antagonistic muscle.

2. A substance that can combine with a cell receptor to produce a reaction typical for that substance.

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Agonist

A medication that has an affinity for and stimulates the activity of cell receptors that are normally stimulated by naturally occurring substances, including melatonin.

Mentioned in: Glaucoma, Jet Lag, Pituitary Tumors, Platelet Aggregation Test

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agonist

[ag′ənist]

Etymology: Gk, agon, struggle

1 a contracting muscle whose contraction is opposed by another muscle (an antagonist).

2 a drug or other substance having a specific cellular affinity that produces a predictable response.

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agonist (aˑ·g·nist),

n a muscle that, upon contraction, is balanced by the contraction of a different muscle. Also called
prime mover.

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agonist (ag´nist),

n 1. an organ, gland, muscle, or nerve center that is so connected physiologically with another that the two function simultaneously in forwarding a given process, such as when two muscles pull on the same skeletal member and receive a nervous excitation at the same time. Opposite: antagonist.
2. a drug or other substance having a specific cellular affinity that produces a predictable response.

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agonist

1. in physiology a muscle which in contracting to move a part is opposed by another muscle (the antagonist).

2. in pharmacology, a drug which has affinity for the cellular receptors of another drug or natural substance and which produces a physiological effect.

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adrenergic agonist (2)

see adrenergic agents.

cholinergic agonist (2)

see cholinergic.

partial agonist (2)

a drug that combines with the relevant receptors but not with the efficiency of the agonist.

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agonist 

1. An agonistic muscle.

2. A substance (e.g. a drug, hormone or neurotransmitter) that binds with a cell receptor to initiate a physiological response similar to that produced by the natural neurotransmitter or hormone. Example: pilocarpine, which mimics the effect of acetylcholine acting on cholinergic receptors. See antagonist.

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agonist

Pharmacology A substance that promotes a receptor-mediated biologic response, often by competing with another substance at the same receptor. Cf Antagonist.