agonist

agonist

 [ag´o-nist]

agonistic muscle.

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

ag·o·nist

(ag'on-ist),

1. Denoting a muscle in a state of contraction, with reference to its opposing muscle, or antagonist.

2. A drug capable of combining with receptors to initiate drug actions; it possesses affinity and intrinsic activity.

[G. agōn, a contest]

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.

agonist

(ăg′ə-nĭst)

n.

1. Physiology A contracting muscle that is resisted or counteracted by another muscle, the antagonist.

2. A substance that can combine with a receptor on a cell to initiate signal transduction.

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.

Agonist

Anatomy Agonist muscle, prime mover. A muscle that causes a particular movement to occur, creating a normal range of movement in a joint by contracting; a muscle which moves in one general direction.
Molecular biology A ligand which binds a receptor at a site adjacent to the active site.
Pharmacology Agonist medication. A chemical entity that does not naturally occur in the body and acts on one or more receptors (e.g., mu, delta, and kappa opiate receptors) by structural mimicry of the receptors’ natural ligand(s). It may be an agonist or partial agonist for a particular receptor, promoting a receptor-mediated biological response, often by competing with another substance (usually the natural or native substance) at the same receptor. A partial agonist produces less than the maximum effect even if given in a concentration sufficient to bind with all available receptors.

agonist

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

ag·o·nist

(ag'ŏn-ist)

1. A muscle (or group of muscles) whose contraction produces a specific action with reference to its antagonist muscle (or muscles).

2. A drug capable of combining with receptors to initiate drug actions; it possesses affinity and intrinsic activity.

[G. agōn, a contest]

agonist

1. A molecule, such as a HORMONE, NEUROTRANSMITTER or drug, that attaches (binds) to a cell receptor site to produce an effect on the cell. Many drugs are agonists having an effect similar or identical to natural body agonists. Other drugs act on the receptor in a blocking role and are antagonists. An antagonist is a molecule that interferes with or prevents the action of the agonist.

2. A contracting muscle that is opposed by contraction of another associated muscle, the antagonist.

agonist

1. a substance capable of binding to a molecular target on the cell surface (RECEPTOR) to elicit a biological response. Examples include HORMONES and DRUGS.
2. a muscle which initiates a response or change in position of a body part acting against an ANTAGONISTIC MUSCLE.

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

agonist (aˑ·g·nist),

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

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.

ag·o·nist

(ag'ŏn-ist)

1. Denoting a muscle in a state of contraction, with reference to its opposing muscle, or antagonist.

2. A drug capable of combining with receptors to initiate drug actions; it possesses affinity and intrinsic activity.

[G. agōn, a contest]

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.