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Receptor Competition

Meaning

Receptor Competition is a core pharmacological principle describing the dynamic process where two or more distinct molecules, such as an endogenous hormone and an administered therapeutic drug, vie for the same finite binding site on a cellular receptor protein. The molecule that ultimately binds and dictates the cellular response is determined by a combination of its concentration at the receptor site and its intrinsic affinity for that specific binding pocket. This concept is fundamental to understanding the efficacy of hormone modulators and the displacement of natural hormones by pharmaceutical agents.